In Vitro Rooting and Greenhouse Acclimatization of Lachenalia Shoots

Abstract

Shoot formation was obtained from Lachenalia arbuthnotiae W.F. Barker, L. bulbifera (Cyrillo) Engl., and L. purpureo-coerulea Jacq. leaf tissue explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with sucrose at 30 g·liter–1, 8.87 μm BA, and 0.44 μm K-NAA. Shoots of all three species rooted on subculture to MS medium supplemented with 0.0, 4.14, or 8.29 μm K-IBA or 0.0, 4.46, or 8.92 μm K-NAA. Maximum percent rooting was ≈81% from treatment with 4.14 μm K-IBA for L. arbuthnotiae and with 8.29 μm K-IBA for L. purpureo-coerulea; it was 59% from treatment with 8.92 μm K-NAA for L. bulbifera. Rooted and nonrooted shoots were acclimatized in a greenhouse. Survival of rooted plants was 93% for L. arbuthnotiae, 95% for L. bulbifera, and 94% for L. purpureo-coerulea. Survival of nonrooted shoots was 71% for L. arbuthnotiae and 91% for L. bulbifera. Chemical names used: 6-benzyladenine (BA); potassium salt of indole-3-butyric acid (K-IBA); potassium salt of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (K-NAA).