Determination of Plantlet Regeneration Capacity of Selected Aspen Clones in Vitro

Abstract

European Aspen(Populus tremula), quaking aspen (P. tremuloi-des) and their hybrids are fast-growing, short rotation trees that have a wide range of adaptability and can be grown on marginal sites. Aspen wood has been employed in matchstick, paper-and plywood industries and has potential value for biomass and energy production. Vegetative propagation of aspen is extremely difficult by woody cuttings and uneconomical by root suckers and grafting. Consequently, large scale clonal multiplication of superior trees has not been feasible with conventional methods of vegetative propagation. On the other hand, tissue culture technology has been successfully exploited for large scale clonal propagation of aspen clones.