Mass propagation of Cyrtanthus clavatus and Cyrtanthus spiralis using liquid medium culture

Bulbs of Cyrtanthus clavatus and Cyrtanthus spiralis were introduced to in vitro culture by the twin-scaling technique. Shoot formation took place during the first 6 weeks of culture with the highest number of shoots in the medium containing 5 g/l activated charcoal. In this medium the shoots formed on the scales as well as on the basal plate. This phenomenon was also observed in the explants treated with 1 mg/l 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 2 mg/l 6-benzyladenine (BA). The highest number of shoots produced in the multiplication step was observed in the medium containing 0.1 mg/1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1 mg/l BA, although these shoots were very small. The best developed shoots were obtained in the treatment with 1 mg/l NAA and 2 mg/l BA. In the bulbing step, the shoots growing on 6% sucrose produced roots and leaves, whereas those growing on 9% sucrose were the biggest in both size and weight. The roots of the bulbs growing on 0.1 mg/l NAA were the thickest and longest, whereas those growing on 0.2 mg/l NAA were wider. All the plantlets obtained showed an unchanged ploidy level, and most of them where able to flower I year after being transferred to soil conditions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.