SIMPLE MICROPROPAGATION OF ORNAMENTALS BY DIRECT APPLICATION OF CHLORINE DISINFECTANTS WITHOUT EQUIPMENT

Abstract

Simple sterile cultures for micropropagation of ornamentals using direct application of chlorine disinfectants by preparing sterile medium without autoclaving and inoculating explants without the laminar air-flow cabinet were developed. These techniques could be applied to various micropropagation processes of ornamentals. The sterile medium could be prepared without autoclaving by immediately incorporating chlorine disinfectants into the medium. In these cases, all chlorine disinfectants tested were effective for sterile medium preparation. The media could be used for sterile cultures in various micropropagation processes. Spraying the surface of a medium and the whole explants with chlorine disinfectants after inoculating was effective for inoculating explants sterilely and for subsequent sterile cultures under non-sterilized conditions. These techniques could be applied to the following cultures, shoot tips of chrysanthemum and Cymbidium, stem section explants of chrysanthemum and carnation, PLB explants of Cymbidium, Cymbidium plantlets and Phalaenopsis plantlets. The treated levels of incorporated and sprayed chlorine disinfectants suppressed in vitro contamination and did not appear to be toxic to shoots, PLBs and plantlets of ornamentals tested. Propagated plantlets which were cultured on the disinfectant incorporated medium and handled with spraying treatments under non-sterile conditions could survive without harming tissues and were raised without in vitro contamination.