Cool-white Fluorescent Light Research Articles

Effects of fluorescent light on growth of bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro incubated with linoleic acid or linoleic acid hydroperoxide.

Light-induced peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may generate lipid hydroperoxides, which may have toxic effects on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro. We investigated the effects of cool-white fluorescent light on the RPE cells incubated with linoleic acids (LA) or linoleic acid hydroperoxides (LHP) and the influence of antioxidative enzymes. We measured the bovine RPE cell number after exposure to fluorescent light (610 and 1,200 lux) in the presence of LA or LHP. Furthermore, the effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase on LA- or LHP-treated RPE cells were also examined. Both LA and LHP treatment increased RPE cell number under weak illumination (610 lux), but dose-dependently decreased the number of cells exposed to strong illumination (1,200 lux). With exposure to strong illumination, LA caused a greater reduction in RPE cell number than LHP. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the number of RPE cells was significantly decreased in a manner dependent on the interactions of the illuminance of light and the concentrations of LA or LHP. The antioxidative enzymes significantly ameliorated the damage to RPE cells from LA or LHP and exposure to light. Therefore, the exposure to fluorescent light augmented the cytotoxic effects of LA and LHP on RPE cells, and this effect is likely to be mediated by reactive oxygen species.

A controlled study of light therapy in women with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder

Previous studies suggest that light therapy, as used to treat seasonal affective disorder, may be beneficial for pre-menstrual depressive disorders. We conducted a six-menstrual cycle randomized, double-blind, counter-balanced, crossover study of dim vs. bright light therapy in women with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD). Fourteen women who met DSM-III-R criteria for LLPDD completed two menstrual cycles of prospective baseline monitoring of pre-menstrual symptoms, followed by two cycles of each treatment. During the 2-week luteal phase of each treatment cycle, patients were randomized to receive 30 min of evening light therapy using: (1) 10 000 lx cool-white fluorescent light (active condition); or (2) 500 lx red fluorescent light (placebo condition), administered by a light box at their homes. After two menstrual cycles of treatment, patients were immediately crossed over to the other condition for another two cycles. Outcome measures were assessed at the mid-follicular and luteal phases of each cycle. Results showed that the active bright white light condition significantly reduced depression and pre-menstrual tension scores during the symptomatic luteal phase, compared to baseline, while the placebo dim red light condition did not. These results suggest that bright light therapy is an effective treatment for LLPDD.

Occurrence of Colletotrichum acutatum, Causal Organism of Strawberry Anthracnose in Southwestern Spain.

A wilting disease of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne 'Oso Grande') was observed in production fields in Huelva, southwestern Andalucía, Spain. Crowns of wilted plants developed a reddish brown, firm rot. Longitudinal sections of roots of diseased plants showed a black coloration of the cortex. Symptons also included blighting of flowers due to floral infection and rotting of green and ripening fruits. On the fruit, the round, firm sunken lesions were covered with masses of salmon-colored spores. Lesions on the leaves were round, ranged in diameter from 5 to 10 mm, and were light brown with purple edges. Infected tissues were surface disinfected in 20% sodium hypoclorite, blotted dry, and plated on water agar. Dishes were incubated at 25°C; hyphal tips made of fungi growing from lesions were transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated under cool-white fluorescent light at 25°C. One fungus was isolated consistently from lesions on different tissues. It was identified as Colletotrichum acutatum by morphological characteristics (2) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (1). On PDA, the mycelium of the fungus was white to gray and covered with salmon spore masses. Colony diameters on PDA averaged 45 mm after 7 days at 25°C. Hyaline, aseptate conidia were cylindrical, fusiform, and intermediate in shape and averaged 12.8 × 4.2 μm in size. The fungus produced setae on infected fruit. Inoculations of strawberry cvs. Oso Grande and Chandler with conidial suspensions (106 conidia per ml) of C. acutatum produced lesions on the fruit, petioles, and crowns, and caused wilt. The pathogen was reisolated from lesions on the inoculated plants. This is the first report of C. acutatum causing strawberry anthracnose in Huelva.

Preservation of red cell properties after virucidal phototreatment with dimethylmethylene blue.

All published reports have described methods for virus photoinactivation which significantly alter red cell (RBC) properties during storage. In order to improve virucidal activity and reduce damage to RBCs, a series of phenothiazine derivatives were either synthesized or purified and screened for bacteriophage inactivation and red cell potassium efflux. One compound, 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue (dimethyl-methylene blue), had superior screening results and was chosen for further characterization. White cell reduced RBC suspensions (30% hematocrit) were deliberately inoculated with extracellular virus or virus-infected VERO cells, incubated with 4 microM dimethyl-methylene blue and illuminated with cool-white fluorescent light. Control and treated samples were titered for virus inactivation. In parallel studies, RBC suspensions were exposed to dimethylmethylene blue and light under identical conditions and assayed for in vitro RBC storage properties. Phototreatment of RBC suspensions inactivated > 4.4 log10 of extracellular vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), > 3.0 log10 of intracellular VSV, > 5.0 log10 of extracellular pseudorabies virus (PRV), > 4.8 log10 of intracellular PRV, > 4.7 log10 of extra-cellular bovine virus diarrhea virus, 5.8 log10 of bacterio-phage phi 6 and > 7 log10 of bacteriophage R17. Encephalo-myocarditis virus, a nonenveloped picornavirus, was resistant to photoinactivation. Virucidal conditions resulted in no detectable IgG binding in 11 of 13 samples, unchanged RBC morphology, normal banding patterns of RBC membrane proteins on SDS PAGE, and unaltered characteristics of 12 of 13 RBC antigens during storage as measured by antibody titrations. In addition, minimal changes were observed in RBC osmotic fragility, lysis, potassium efflux, ATP and 2,3-DPG levels, and the strength of one RBC antigen during storage of phototreated samples compared with controls. Dimethylmethylene blue photo-treatment can inactivate several intracellular and extracellular model viruses under conditions which minimally alter RBC properties during 42 days storage at 1-6 degrees C.

REVISITING THE PERFORMANCE AND MOOD EFFECTS OF INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHTING AND FLUORESCENT LAMP TYPE

Popular articles and manufacturers' literature assert that full-spectrum fluorescent lighting improves cognitive performance, vision, and mood. Previous experimental investigations have failed to demonstrate these effects. This paper reports an attempt to replicate earlier work concerning the effects of information sets about lighting on performance and mood. In this 2 (lamp type) × 4 (information sets) × 2 (gender) factorial experiment, 104 male and 104 female participants were led to expect good, poor or indifferent outcomes of working under full-spectrum or cool-white fluorescent lighting, or they were not given any information. There were no effects of lamp type or information set on performance or mood. The results are discussed in relation to other evidence that cognitive processes mediate lighting–behaviour relationships.

Increase of Easter Lily Postharvest Flower Longevity with PBA Application to Young Flower Buds

Case-cooled bulbs of Lilium longiflorum `Nellie White' were potted on 4 Dec. 1995 and forced to flowering using standard growing procedures. Plants were illuminated from shoot emergence to visible bud with supplemental high-intensity-discharge sodium vapor light at 70 μmol·m–2·s–1 from 1700 to 2200 HR each day. When the first primary flower bud (first initiated flower bud most proximal on the shoot) was 5 to 7 cm long, each plant was treated with 3 ml of either de-ionized water or 500 mg·liter–1 6-(benzylamino)-9-(2-tetrahydropyranyl)-9H-purine (PBA). Sprays were directed at the flower buds and associated bracts. When the tepals on the first primary flower bud split, plants were placed at 2°C in the dark for 0, 4, or 21 days. After storage, plants were placed in a postharvest evaluation room with constant 21°C temperature and 18 μmol·m–2·s–1 cool-white fluorescent light. The first three primary flowers on PBA-treated plants lasted significantly longer than corresponding flowers on control plants, but there was no difference between flowers at the fourth and fifth positions. Also, the total postharvest life of the five primary flowers on PBA treated plants was 3 days longer than those on control plants. Storage time inversely affected the postharvest longevity of the first three primary flowers, but had no effect on the longevity of the fourth or fifth primary flowers or total postharvest life of the five primary flowers. There were no significant interaction effects between PBA treatment and storage duration on primary flower longevity.

Extending Potted Bougainvillea Post-production: NAA, STS, and Ethanol

The effect of NAA [16.5 mg/L or 500 mg/L sprayed once at end-of-production from two different sources: wettable powder (Fruitone) and sodium hydroxide solution (Sigma)], STS (0.5 mM sprayed once at end-of-production and 0.4 mM sprayed every 15 days after bracts started to be apparent) and ethanol 50% (v/v) solution, sprayed twice: at end-of-production and immediately after simulated transport) were tested using two types of completely randomized experiments. At the end-of-production plants were placed for 3 days under simulated transport conditions (171°C, no light) and then placed under interior conditions (211°C and 11 mol·s–1·m–2 of cool-white fluorescent light 12 h/day). Every other day during post-production the number of bracts not completely developed (ED), as well as the number of completely (CD) developed, bracts remaining in the plants were assessed. Among the post-production treatments tested, NAA (500 mg/L) and STS (applications every 15 days during production) + NAA (16.5 mg/L) were the most-efficient treatments. Ethanol and STS (one single application) did not control bract abscission efficiently and did not increase plant longevity. Plants treated with NAA abscise more not completely develop bracts than completely developed bracts. Use of NAA in potted bougainvillea requires fully developed bracts at end-of-production.

Number of Open Florets on a Flowering Stem Influences Postharvest Life of Antirrhinum majus L.

Flowering stems from three commercial inbreds and their F1 hybrids of Antirrhinum majus L. were cut when the first eight basal florets opened. Tops of the stems were removed above the eighth floret and florets were removed leaving two, four, six, or eight open florets on a stem. A completely random design with 10 replications was used. Flowering stems were placed in plastic storage containers 35 × 23 × 14 cm (L × W × H) with 2.5 L deionized water for postharvest evaluation. Evaluation took place under continuous cool-white fluorescent light (9 μmol·m–2·s–1) at 24°C Postharvest life was determined as the number of days from cutting to discard when 50% of the open florets on a flowering stem wilted, turned brown, or dried. Results showed postharvest life increased as the number of open florets on a stem decreased. Mean postharvest life increased as much as 4.7 days when only two florets remained on a stem. These results indicate a direct relationship between number of florets on a cut flower stem and postharvest life.

Adventitious Shoot Formation on Hypocotyl Explants of Antirrhinum majus L.

One-centimeter hypocotyl explants from 2-week-old Antirrhinum majus L. (snapdragon) seedlings germinated and grown in vitro under 12-h cool-white fluorescent light and 12 h dark or 24 h dark were placed on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0, 0.44, 2.22, 4.44, 8.88, or 44.4 μM N6-benzyladenine (BA). Cultures were maintained under the light/dark regime at 25°C. After 2 weeks, adventitious shoots were counted. A shoot was considered adventitious and counted if a stem and leaf developed. Shoots developed along the entire length of the hypocotyl sections. Mean shoot production per hypocotyl explant ranged from 2.4 to 6.1 shoots when seedlings were germinated and grown in 24 h darkness and 2.2 to 10.9 shoots when started in the light/dark regime. Highest shoot counts were attained /from hypocotyl explants when seedlings were germinated and grown under the light/dark regime for 2 weeks and transferred to 2.22, 4.44, or 8.88 μM BA. Shoot development appeared normal at the 2.22 and 4.44 μM level, while at 8.88 μM BA, development was slightly abnormal along with slightly more callus production.

L-tryptophan augmentation of light therapy in patients with seasonal affective disorder.

Up to one-third of patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) do not have a full response to light therapy. Given the evidence for serotonergic dysregulation in SAD, we examined the possible role of l-tryptophan as an augmentation strategy for nonresponders and partial responders to light therapy. Eligible drug-free patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for SAD were treated for 2 weeks using a standard morning light therapy regimen (10,000 lux cool-white fluorescent light for 30 minutes). Partial and nonresponders were treated for 2 weeks with open-label l-tryptophan (1 g 3 times daily) while light therapy was continued. Ratings at baseline and follow-up included the 29-item Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, SAD version (SIGH-SAD) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale. Sixteen patients began the l-tryptophan augmentation phase. Two patients discontinued medications within 3 days because of side effects. In the 14 patients completing treatment, the addition of l-tryptophan resulted in significant reduction of mean depression scores. Nine of 14 patients (64%) showed very good clinical responses to combined treatment and minimal side effects. This open-label study suggests that l-tryptophan may be an effective augmentation strategy for those patients with SAD who show limited or poor response to bright ligh therapy. Further placebo-controlled studies are warranted to demonstrate efficacy.

First Report of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on Cyclamen persicum in Florida.

Between March and April of 1996, an estimated 20% of the Cyclamen persicum Mill. grown in Florida were infected with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. & Sacc. in Penz. Symptoms included extensive lesions on flowers, stems, and leaves. Acervuli containing masses of spores and dark setae were observed within lesions. The most severe damage was observed on the cultivar Red Delight. Infected tissues were dipped into 0.26% sodium hypochlorite for 5 s, blotted dry, embedded in water agar, and incubated at 27 ± 1°C. Hyphal tips that grew from lesions were transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated under cool-white fluorescent lights. Developing colonies were gray and contained masses of orange conidia. Conidia were straight with rounded or bulbous ends and averaged 16.8 (SD 5.2) × 2.25 (SD 0.54) μm. Three isolates were selected to complete Koch's postulates. Conidia of each isolate were obtained from 3-day-old PDA cultures, and suspended in sterile, distilled water (SDW) to 104 conidia/ml. These suspensions were sprayed till runoff with hand sprayers onto C. persicum plants. Plants were incubated in plastic bags for 24 h at 27°C, then placed in a glasshouse. Within 3 days, lesions had developed on flowers; within 7 days, they were visible on stems and leaves. Lesion diameter varied from 2 to 5 mm; however, lesions soon coalesced, causing leaf, stem, and flower death. The fungus was reisolated from acervuli that developed on the flowers, stems, and leaves, following previously outlined procedures. Inoculation tests were repeated once. Symptoms did not appear on controls sprayed with SDW nor was the teleomorph stage of the pathogen observed.

Diurnal Temperature Alterations Influence Final Height of Herbaceous Perennials

DIF is the difference between day (DT) and night (NT) temperatures. Temperature drop is a 2-hour temperature reduction at sunrise. DIF and temperature drop, which can be affected by light quality, are effective methods to control final plant height of many greenhouse crops. The effect of DIF and temperature drop on final height was determined for eight species of perennials. Durations for DIF temperatures were 12 hours for both DT and NT. Temperature alterations occurred at sunrise. Temperature treatments (DT/NT) consisted of zero DIF (20/20°C), negative DIF (16/24°C), or positive DIF (24/16°C), and a 2-hour drop (12.7/20.7°C). Long days (LD) were provided from 2200-0200 hr by either cool-white fluorescent (CWF) or incandescent (INC) lights. Data for days to visible bud and anthesis, bud number, and final height were collected. Positive DIF conditions enhanced elongation while negative DIF reduced it in all species. As DIF decreased from positive to negative, plant height was reduced 10%, 30%, 30%, and 20% in Coreopsis `Moonbeam' and `Sunray', Delphinium `Belladonna', and Scabiosa `Butterfly Blue', respectively. Negative-DIF responses were enhanced under CWF lights for some species. In negative-DIF conditions, Coreopsis `Moonbeam' and `Sunray' and Delphinium `Belladonna' were 10%, 10%, and 15% shorter, respectively, under CWF lights than INC lights.

Effects of bright light on sleepiness, melatonin, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3in winter seasonal affective disorder

Sixteen patients with winter seasonal affective disorder and 13 healthy controls were exposed to 3300 lx of cool-white fluorescent light for either 1 hour or 15 min in the morning for 2 weeks during the winter. Subjective sleepiness, melatonin concentration in saliva, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) concentration were measured before and after the 2-week trial as well as the following summer when the patients were well. There were no significant differences in the baseline values between the patients and healthy subjects. No significant differences in the outcome measures were observed in the patients or the controls in the two groups of each after the trial. The exposure to bright light resulted in a significant decrease in subjective sleepiness early in the evening in the patients but not in the control subjects. The reduction of depressive symptoms was associated with the decrease in subjective sleepiness but not with the changes in the melatonin or vitamin D concentrations.

Effects of Temperature, Photoperiod, and Light Quality on Flowering in Several Herbaceous Perennial Species

The influence of low temperatures on Campanula carpatica `Blue Clips' and Lavandula angustifolia `Munstead' flowering was determined; plants were stored at 5C for several weeks and forced under 9-h photoperiods with a 4-h night interruption (NI). C. carpatica, L. angustifolia, and Asclepias tuberosa were forced under NI at five temperatures (15–27C) and time to flower under each treatment was calculated. Flower number and size were reduced at highest temperatures. The effectiveness of cool-white fluorescent (CWF), high-pressure sodium (HPS), incandescent (I), and metal halide (MH) lights in inducing flowering in C. carpatica and Coreopsis lanceolata `Early Sunrise' was compared. Lighting was delivered as a 7-h daylength extension with PPF ranging from 0.05–2.0 μmol·m–2·s–1. Minimum irradiances above which all C. carpatica flowered were approximately 0.14, 0.12, 0.1, and 0.17 μmol·m–2·s–1, respectively. C. lanceolata under CWF displayed irregular flowering throughout the range of intensities used. Under HPS and MH, minimum irradiances for 100% flowering were 0.37 and 1.0 μmol·m–2·s–1, respectively, with sporadic flowering at lower intensities. Under I light, all C. lanceolata exposed to 0.12 μmol·m–2·s–1 or more flowered.

Regulation of Bell Pepper Seedling Growth with End-of-day Supplemental Fluorescent Light

The influence of end-of-day (EOD), supplemental, cool-white fluorescent light on pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Keystone Resistant Giant No. 3) seedling growth and fruit production after transplanting to the field was investigated. Seedlings were exposed to this light source, which is high in the red wavebands, from one (1988) or two bulbs (1989) for 1 hour before the end of the natural photoperiod. Each year control plants were exposed to ambient light and received no supplemental fluorescent light. Before transplanting to the field, seedlings exposed to two bulbs were shorter and had smaller leaves than plants in the control treatment. Supplemental fluorescent light treatment, regardless of number of bulbs, reduced plant height, leaf area, fruit weight, and fruit count at the first harvest. Total fruit production was not affected by supplemental light, suggesting no residual effect of the light treatment during transplant production on total subsequent fruit production.

Mutation spectra in Salmonella of sunlight, white fluorescent light, and light from tanning salon beds: induction of tandem mutations and role of DNA repair

We evaluated the mutagenicity of sunlight (SUN), uncovered coolwhite fluorescent light (FLR), and light from a tanning salon bed (TAN) at the base-substitution allele hisG46 of Salmonella in four DNA repair backgrounds (wild type, uvrB, pKM101, and uvrB + pKM101). Approximately 80% of the radiation emitted by TAN was within the ultraviolet (UV) range, whereas only ∼ 10% of the SUN and ∼ 1% of the FLR radiation was UV. TAN emitted similar amounts of UVA and UVB, whereas SUN emitted 50–60 × and FLR emitted 5–10 × more UVA relative to UVB. Based on total dose (UV + visible), the mutagenic potency ranking was TAN > FLR > SUN. Using colony probe hybridization and PCR DNA sequence analysis, ∼ 3000 revertants were analyzed to determine the mutational specificity of the three light sources. The mutation spectra and those induced by 254-nm UV had common features. The uvrB mutation enhanced the mutagenicity of the environmental UV sources more (20–216 ×) than did the pKM101 plasmid (∼ 20 ×) relative to wild type DNA repair. All light sources induced equal proportions of transitions and transversions in excision repair-proficient strains, but they induced more transitions relative to transversions in uvrB-containing strains. The majority of the mutations were G·C → A·T transitions that were induced equally frequently at the first or second position of the CCC codon of the hisG46 allele in all strains except TA1535 ( uvrB), where SUN and FLR induced transitions preferentially at the first position, and TAN induced them preferentially at the second position. Identified or presumptive multiple mutations, which constituted the only mutational class enhanced by all three light sources in the presence of uvrB and pKM101 either alone or together, accounted for 3–5% of the induced mutations in the plasmid-containing strains, and their increases (38–82-fold) in TA100 ( uvrB, pKM101) were the highest of any mutational class. Of the TAN-induced multiple mutations, 83% ( 19 23 ) were CC → TT tandem transitions. These results show that exposures to the nonsolar environmental UV sources FLR and TAN produce mutations similar to those produced by SUN, a known carcinogen.

FiveStemphyliumspp. Pathogenic to Alfalfa: Occurrence in the United States and Time Requirements for Ascospore Production

Stemphylium isolates from alfalfa from 10 states in the U.S. were identified according to new taxonomic criteria. Seventeen of the 22 isolates were S. alfalfae/Pleospora alfalfae from California, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Kansas, Wisconsin, and New York. The other five isolates were S. botryosum/P. tarda from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New York. All isolates produced similar symptoms on excised alfalfa leaves in tests to confirm pathogenicity. The time required for ascospore production, which has become more important in recent taxonomic revisions of Stemphylium/Pleospora, was determined under standardized conditions for isolates of five Stemphylium spp. obtained from E. G. Simmons. Culture plates of 0.1 strength potato-dextrose agar were seeded with conidia from 14-day-old cultures, sealed with Parafilm, and incubated under an 8-h photoperiod of 40-65μE.m −2 .s −1 of cool-white fluorescent lighting at 15±2 C. The numbers of days after dishes were seeded with conidia until mature ascospores were produced were: 12.7±3.3 for S. alfalfae/P. alfalfae, 26.4±3.3 for S. globuliferum/Pleospora sp., 27.3±2.8 for S. vesicarium/Pleospora sp., 28.9±2.5 for S. herbarum/P. herbarum, and 62.6±2.1 for S. botryosun/P. tarda. The time requirements for ascospore production determined under these standardized conditions complemented morphological taxonomic features in distinguishing some of the Pleospora pathogens of alfalfa, especially P. alfalfae and P. tarda, the two most common species in the U.S. These conditions also reduced ascospore production time for P. tarda to 2 mo

803 PB 109 EFFECTS OF NAA, 2,4-D, AND BAP ON CALLUS FORMATION IN TABLE GRAPES AS INFLUENCED BY SPECIES COMPOSITION

`Saturn', `Mars', and `Reliance' were compared based on their different Vitis vinifera and V. labrusca compositions. Disks (10 mm) from young leaves were placed abaxial side down on a standard media containing NAA or 2,4-D at 0.0, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/L with BAP at 0.0, 0.1, and 0.2 mg/L. Each treatment was replicated in 10 culture tubes and incubated at 25 ± 1C under cool-white fluorescent light for 10h photoperiods. Calli were compared by size, color, and occurrence of morphogenesis. NAA generally produced a larger callus by cultivar than 2,4-D. A greater quantity of callus was generally produced with the increase of the V. labrusca component. Callus produced on 2,4-D medium was round, compact and light to dark green in color. However, callus produced on NAA medium was amorphous, friable, and ranged in colors. Rooting occurred on some calli produced on NAA media.

Morning light therapy for winter depression: predictors of response.

Bright-light therapy is widely regarded as an effective treatment for winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD). We attempted to identify predictors of light therapy response in 54 depressed, drug-free outpatients diagnosed with SAD by DSM-III-R criteria. After a baseline week, patients were treated for 2 weeks with 2500-lx cool-white fluorescent light exposure from 0600 to 0800 daily. The results showed that light therapy significantly reduced depression scores. Several indices of atypical and typical symptoms correlated with response, but none was clearly superior to the pre-treatment depression score. A multiple regression analysis identified 3 factors (hypersomnia, increased eating and younger age) that predicted light-therapy response. These results suggest that specific symptoms of hypersomnia and hyperphagia are predictors of response to morning bright-light therapy in SAD.

Micropropagation ofAcacia mearnsii

A micropropagation system was developed forAcacia mearnsii De Wild., which is the principal source of the world’s tanbark and an excellent firewood. Shoot tips 5-mm long from 3-wk-old seedlings germinated in vitro served as explants. The seeds were germinated on hormone-free MS medium and the shoot tips were cultured on three-fourth-strength MS medium supplemented with combinations of auxins [indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) andα-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)] and cytokinins [kinetin and benzylaminopurine (BAP)]. Cultures were maintained at 25° ± 5° C and exposed to 12-h photoperiods of cool-white fluorescent light (70 µEm−2·s−1). Multiple shoot formation was promoted by BAP at 2 mg · liter−1 (8.87µM) and higher combined with or without 0.01 mg · liter−1 (0.049µM) IBA. Cytokinins at concentrations of less than 1 mg · liter−1 combined with 0.01 to 0.1 mg · liter−1 auxin inhibited multiple shoot formation and promoted rooting of the shoot tip explants. Shoot multiplication cultures were maintained by transferring segments of multiple-shoot clusters onto a medium containing 2 mg · liter−1 BAP and 0.01 mg · liter−1 IBA. Although higher levels of BAP promoted more multiple shoot formation, this BAP level allowed shoot elongation as well as multiplication. In-vitro-produced shoots were induced to root on a range of NAA concentrations (0.0 to 0.8 mg · liter−1[4.3µM]) supplemented to half- or full-strength MS medium. The highest frequency of root proliferation was on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.6 mg · liter−1 (3.22µM) NAA. Plantlets survived in potting soil and exhibited normal growth under greenhouse conditions.