Vegetative propagation of Metabriggsia ovalifolia W. T. Wang using leaf cuttings and petiole segments

Abstract

SUMMARYMetabriggsia ovalifolia W. T. Wang. is an endangered species indigenous to China. Leaf cuttings and petiole segments derived from 1-year-old potted plants, originally derived from in vitro cultures, were used to study the effects of various plant growth regulators (PGRs) and orientation (only for leaf cuttings) on the induction of adventitious shoots and roots. Leaf cuttings and petiole segments dipped in 20.0 |iM 6-benzyladenine (BA) for 30 min induced the highest number of shoots per explant (6.8 and 9.8, respectively) among the PGRs tested, and 1–20 iM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) induced more roots than indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or a-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Leaf cuttings placed abaxial side down induced significantly more adventitious shoots (5.0 per cutting) than leaf cuttings placed abaxial side up (0.6 per cutting). More than 96% of plantlets survived when transferred to square plastic trays filled with a 1:1 (v/v) mix of sand and perlite. This study provides a simple, quick and efficient method of propagation from leaf cuttings or petiole segments, allowing this endangered ornamental species to be maintained sustainably.