Micropropagation of Rosa damascena and R. bourboniana in liquid cultures

Abstract

A liquid culture system using nodal segments was used for shoot proliferation and root induction in Rosa damascena and R. bourboniana, two commercially-important species of scented rose. For efficient and large scale induction of roots in microshoots, a rooting vessel was designed and developed to facilitate the micropropagation protocol. The present work highlights the significance of osmotic potential in relation to enhanced growth and development in liquid cultures, vis-à-vis agar-gelled cultures, especially in relation to root induction during micropropagation. An additional significant feature of the protocol developed, was the high success rate of hardening the micropropagated plants in low-cost hardening chambers, up to ca. 96.7% for R. damascena and 100% for R. bourboniana.