Micropropagation of Karwinskia parvifolia and the transfer of plants to ex vitro conditions

Abstract

Zygotic embryos of Karwinskia parvifolia, isolated from seeds obtained from different regions of Mexico, were cultured on Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with 0.06 µM indole-3-acetic acid, 0.03 µM gibberellic acid, and 2 µM 6-benzylaminopurine. The growth of embryos and multiplication of shoots from stem segments were achieved. Rooting of excised shoots could be initiated on basal WPM medium with prolonged subculture period to 2 months, or on WPM medium supplemented with 10 µM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid. Multiplication capacity of shoots and rooting of K. parvifolia differed in dependence on the origin of explant material. The shoot multiplication was much lower than that of Karwinskia humboldtiana. The rooting depended on the origin of K. parvifolia seeds. The regenerated plants were successfully transferred to glasshouse.