MICROPROPAGATION AND BIOTECHNOLOGY OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL ORNAMENTALS

Abstract

Early research on micropropagation of tropical and subtropical species primarily focused on germination, and subsequently multiplication of tropical orchid species. Following the development of a suitable germination medium by Knudson, Burgeff and others, and the subsequent landmark research on vegetative multiplication in vitro by Rotor and Morel, many studies were initiated aimed at micropropagation of a large number of species. Following research in many laboratories, commercialization of species in addition to orchids, such as Anthurium, Gerbera, Saintpaulia, Spathiphyllum, Syngonium and other ornamental foliage species soon became commonplace. Further interest in market-driven rapid multiplication, along with a newly recognized need for conservation of rare and endangered species, stimulated additional efforts to develop new in vitro techniques for cacti, succulents, bromeliads and carnivorous plants, to mention a few examples. In addition, many novel plants from South Africa, Australia and other tropical and subtropical locales have received a great deal of attention in recent years and have significantly expanded the palette of plants available to the horticultural industry. The new exciting tools of biotechnology, such as transformation techniques, are being brought to bear on improvement and propagation of ornamental plant species.