In vitro establishment and plantlet regeneration of gerbera Jamesonii bolus ex hook by tissue culture technique

Abstract

Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex Hook is an ornamental species used as cut flowers with great economic importance. It is generally propagated via vegetative process which increases the risk of viral disease problems. The tissue culture technique is an alternative method to obtain, in short period, a high number of healthy plants. This work was intended for obtaining in vitro G. jamesonii plantlets from capitulum of four cultivars: Appel Bloesen, Marleen, Clementine and Pimpernel. The explants were cultivated on "MS" modified medium supplemented with BAP-6-benzylaminopurine (0.0-1.0-2.0-3.0 and 5.0 mg/l); IAA - indole 3-acetic acid (0.5 mg/l) and KIN - kinetin (0.0 and 2.0 mg/l). The young capitula were previously sterilized in 70% alcohol (2 minutes) and 1.5% sodium hypochlorite (20 minutes). The best result was achieved on the medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l BAP and 0.5 mg/l IAA, which promoted intensive callus development with shoot formation in Appel Bloesen and Marleen cultivars.