MULTIPLE PLANTLETS IN LATERAL BUD AND LEAF EXPLANT INVITRO CULTURES OF PINEAPPLE

Plantlets were obtained from usually dormant axillary buds, excised from the crown of pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr.) and grown in culture. Multiple shoots arose from single buds grown on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with auxins and kinetin. Shaking culture-flasks during growth increased the number of multiple shoots formed, when compared with stationary liquid cultures. Leaf explants excised from in vitro plantlets developed into a callus capable of plantlet regeneration. Subjecting developing buds to surgical segmentation also resulted in multiple shoot formation. Such shoots, when excised and grown on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with auxins, developed roots and grew into complete plantlets capable of being grown in soil. © 1979.