ORGANOGENESIS IN TAXUS-BREVIFOLIA TISSUE-CULTURES

A method is described for multiple shoot and plantlet formation from zygotic embryos of Taxus brevifolia. Adventitious bud primordia were best induced by culturing zygotic embryos on 1/2 B5 medium supplemented with 10 mu M BA for 14 days. Further vegetative buds were produced following subculture to half-strength McCown's basal salt medium containing 1.0% activated charcoal. Individual adventitious shoots were excised and approximately 5% of these formed roots. Rooting frequency was increased to 58% by a single treatment with ABT rooting powder. Vigorous growing Taxus brevifolia plants were established after transfer to plant growth medium.