ADVENTITIOUS SHOOT REGENERATION IN CARNATION (DIANTHUS-CARYOPHYLLUS) FROM AXILLARY BUD EXPLANTS

Adventitious shoots were regenerated from axillary bud explants of 15 carnation cultivars. The use of leaf and stem explants was not successful, largely due to explant senescence in the presence of benzyladenine, kinetin and, to a lesser extent, zeatin. For axillary bud explants, a suitable optimum adventitious regeneration medium contained Murashige and Skoog basal medium solidified with Gelrite and supplemented with 15 μm benzyladenine and 0.5 μM a-napthaleneacetic acid. Adventitious primordia arose from the cut basal end of bud explants erupting as individual shoots after 2-3 weeks incubation. The axillary bud size and the time between subcultures of source material influenced the production of adventitious shoots. Transfer of regenerated shoots onto a medium solidified with agar minimized visible signs of vitrification. Regenerated shoots could be easily rooted, transferred to glasshouse conditions and grown to flowering. © 1991 Annals of Botany Company.