JASMONIC ACID STIMULATES SHOOT AND BULB FORMATION OF GARLIC IN-VITRO

Although much information is available concerning the involvement of jasmonates in the regulation of plant development, few reports are devoted to their effects in tissue culture. In the present study, the influence of jasmonic acid (JA) on shoot and bulb formation in tissue culture of garlic (Allium sativum cv. Ptuj) was studied. Isolated basal plates were placed onto Gamborg's B5 medium. JA significantly enhanced the shoot and bulb development in concentrations from 1-10 muM. When the combination of 10 muM JA and 5 muM 2-iP was used in the initiation media, the average number of shoots was 30 after 6 weeks of culture. The bulbs formed on approximately 50% of shoots. Results described in this article show that JA might play an important role in the formation of storage organs in plants, in this case on garlic bulbs.