Poinsettia ‘Prestige™ Red’ (Euphorbia pulcherrima) In Vitro Propagation

Abstract

Slow growth rate of plantlets, few micro-shoots per explant, and slow root growth rate are restrictions of in vitro propagation of poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Koltz). The purpose of this research was to develop an efficient in vitro proliferation technique for poinsettia ‘Prestige™ Red’. Explants (apical buds and axillary buds) placed on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium containing only 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and combinations of BA and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) mostly produced red callus, which is productive and some white and gray–green calluses at the base of plantlets after 1 month, whereas explants in a medium without plant growth regulators (PGRs) produced no callus. Addition of IAA into the rooting medium increased rooting efficiency; plantlets grown in half-strength MS salts and vitamins with 28.5 μM IAA initiated rooting 11 days earlier than the plantlets grown with no PGRs. Optimization of PGR concentrations during poinsettia micropropagation helped resolve previous restrictions of in vitro poinsettia proliferation. Chemical names used: 6-benzylaminopurine (BA); indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)