Effects of Anti-auxins and Basal Plate on Bulblet Formation in Scale Propagation of Amaryllis (Hippeastrum*hybridum hort.).

Abstract

Effects of anti-auxins and various morphological types of twin and single scales on bulblet formation in amaryllis (Hippeastrum×hybridum hort.) were investigated. Auxin inhibited bulblet production on single scales, whereas anti-auxins promoted it. Twin scales without the lower half of the basal plate did not lose their ability to produce bulblets. The rate of bulblet formation in two scales obtained from four adjacent scales by removing inner two scales was very low when the two distant scales were connected by a lower half of the basal plate ; it was higher when they were connected by an upper half of the basal plate. Two independent scales without a basal plate but connected by plain agar blocks or agar blocks containing activated charcoal formed bulblets faster than did single scales without a basal plate. A single scale having a thicker basal plate induced bulblet formation faster than did the normal single scales. Thus, auxin has a negative role in bulblet production, whereas the basal plate has a significant role as has the outer scales in twin scale propagation of a new plant. We recommend the use of anti-auxins and scales attached to a portion of the basal plate as efficient means of in vitro bulblet propagation.