Journal Of Applied Horticulture ISSN: 0972-1045



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horticultureresearch

Yaser Hassan Dewir, Nisha Singh, Siveshni Govender and Pragashnee Pillay

School of Biological & Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa. Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt.

Key words: Bioreactor, in vitro flowering, Gentian, mass propagation, microponics

Journal of Applied Horticulture, 2010, volume 12, issue 1, pages 30-34.

Abstract: Hormonal control of flower induction in vitro was investigated in Gentian. The effect of PBZ concentrations on flowering was studied in plantlets cultured in MS medium containing 30 g L-1sucrose. Paclobutrazol (PBZ) concentration at 1.0 mg L-1 induced the highest flowering in terms of flowering percentage (91.5%), number of flowers, days to first flowering, flower length and flower diameter. PBZ did not trigger flowering but it rather stimulated flowering and its role seemed to be additive but not essential for flowering. Comparison between solid and bioreactor cultures (continuous immersion with a net) revealed that shoot multiplication and growth were more efficient using bioreactor culture. The highest shoot number per explant (29.9) was obtained in bioreactor culture. Regenerated shoots were cultured microponically for 6 weeks. Hundred percent of plants rooted and were acclimatized successfully in growing media containing perlite: vermiculite (1:1).



Journal of Applied Horticulture