Rooting of American Chestnut Microcuttings

Abstract

A procedure for micropropagation of American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.) seedlings was devised and three factors affecting in vitro rooting were investigated. A two-step rooting procedure is utilized with a short term exposure to the auxin, IBA (indole-3-butyric acid), called the pulse treatment followed by transfer to an auxin-free medium called the rooting treatment. Optimum rooting was attained with an IBA concentratIon of 369 μM, a sucrose concentration of 4% (w/v) and half strength WPM basal medium concentration. This rooting regimen should enhance vegetative propagation techniques needed for rapid multiplication of selected disease-resistant trees.