Application of Floating Culture System on Clonal Propagation of Taiwanese Wild Grape

Abstract

In this study, we built a floating culture system, which could improve the rooting percentage of stem cuttings of taiwanese wild grape (Vitis thunbergii). We took softwood cuttings instead of hardwood cuttings and tested the effects of cutting type, medium type, and auxin concentration on the rooting percentage. In the first experiment, single leaf cuttings (SLC) in 26 °C circulating water (CW26) produced 82% rooting as compared with 48% rooting in the subirrigation medium [SM (3 horticultural perlite : 2 peatmoss, by volume)]. The highest rooting percentage of 88% occurred in 30 °C circulating water (CW30). The same trend was also observed in terminal cuttings (TC) with 62% rooting in CW26 compared with 27% in SM. The highest rooting percentage of 83% occurred in CW30. Besides having the highest rooting percentage, TC and SLC in CW30 formed adventitious roots 7 and 9 d earlier than in 22 °C circulating water (CW22). In the second experiment, SLC in 1.25 μm 1-naphthalenacetic acid (NAA) solution produced 92% rooting as compared with 82% rooting in the untreated group. In addition, SLC in all NAA solution treatments formed adventitious root 6 d earlier than in the untreated group. Based on these results, we suggest that the floating culture system is a practicable system for the clonal propagation of taiwanese wild grape.