GROWTH-REGULATORS INFLUENCE ROOT AND SHOOT DEVELOPMENT OF MICROPROPAGATED ALGERIAN IVY

Shoots of greenhouse-grown Algerian ivy (Hedera canariensis L.) were surface disinfected and explanted on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with BA (10-mu-M) and NAA (2.5-mu-M). One month later the shoots were transferred to MS proliferation medium supplemented with TDZ (0.1 or 0.5-mu-M) and NAA (40-mu-M). An average of three microshoots developed on each stem treated with TDZ. Pruned shoots grown on MS medium supplemented with GA3 (20-mu-M) and BA (20-mu-M) branched better than unpruned shoots (3.7 vs. 1 per explant, respectively). Rooted shoots grown ex vitro grew and developed a shape suitable for commercial sale in 3 months. Chemical names used: N-(phenyl-methyl)-1H-purine-6-amine (BA); gibberellic acid (GA3); 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); N-phenyl-N1-1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl urea (Thidiazuron, TDZ).