Micropropagation, including adventitious shoot growth from leaf sections, was achieved for Grevillea scapigera (Proteaceae), a rare and endangered species from Western Australia. Shoot tips were initiated on filter paper supports with liquid WPM (Woody Plant Medium) and supplemented with 20-mu-M zeatin riboside and 2-mu-M GA3. Shoots were then incubated on WPM solidified with agar and supplemented with 5-mu-M kinetin and 0.5-mu-M BA, which produced an approximate 6-fold multiplication rate per month. Up to three adventitious shoots were induced from 0.7-cm2 leaf sections after 6 to 7 weeks on solid 1/2 MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium supplemented with 10-mu-M BA and 0.5-mu-M IBA. Shoots, 30 to 50 mm long, were rooted in vivo in a fogged glasshouse under 70% shade using a commercial rooting powder [IBA, 0.1% (w/w)] applied to the base of the shoots. Most (67%) of the shoots treated in this way rooted after 5 weeks. Established, rooted plants have been grown on under glasshouse conditions. Chemical names used: N6-[2-isopentenyl] adenine riboside (zeatin riboside); gibberellic acid (GA3); 6-furfurylaminopurine (kinetin); N-(phenylmethyl)-1H-purine-6-amine (BA); 1-H-indole-3-butyric acid (IBA).
