In Vitro Propagation of Virginia Pine from Cotyledons

Abstract

Adventitious shoots developed on cotyledons of Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana Mill.) excised from seeds subjected to H 2 O 2 treatment for 3, 6, or 9 days and cultured on media containing 0.5 to 10 mg BA/liter. Shoot regeneration was greatest (42 shoots per embryo) on cotyledons from seeds treated with H 2 O 2 for 6 days and placed on medium containing BA at 10 mg·liter -1 . Excised shoots elongated on medium lacking BA. Following elongation, shoots were placed on media containing IBA at 0 to 40 mg·liter -1 for 14 days followed by transfer to the same medium lacking auxin. Without IBA treatment, rooting was 3%, and increased to 50% for 5 to 40 mg·liter -1 . Rooted shoots averaged 2.0 roots per shoot without auxin incorporation, 3.3 roots when treated with 5 mg IBA/liter, and the number of roots increased linearly with increased IBA concentration up to 40 mg·liter -1 (4.5 roots). Plantlets were transferred to growing medium and acclimated successfully to greenhouse conditions. Chemical names used: N- (phenylmethyl)-1 H- purine-6-amine (BA), 1 H- indole-3-butyric acid CBA).