Leucojum aestivum L. in vitro bulbs induction and acclimatization

Abstract

The effects of growth retardants (paclobutrazol and ancymidol), sucrose, GA3 (gibberellic acid) and physical state of the medium (solid and liquid - Rita® temporary immersion system) on in vitro induction of Leucojum aestivum bulbs and their acclimatization were studied. Paclobutrazol, regardless of the physical state of the medium, stimulated the formation of bulbs (99.3%). Under the influence 90 g L-1 of sucrose or paclobutrazol the bulbs with the highest fresh weight (FW) were formed (250 mg and 208.8 mg, respectively). However, the addition of ancymidol to the liquid medium led to obtaining the bulbs showing the highest number of leaves and roots (63.2% and 91.7%, respectively). The scanning microscopy study proved that plants obtained in the medium containing GA3 produced the stomata which most closely resembled to the one observed in the mother plant. Cytometric analysis of all regenerants revealed absence of changes in the nuclear DNA content. The maximum survival rate (100%) was observed for plants derived from liquid medium containing 90 g L-1 of sucrose. Somewhat fewer plants were acclimatized after their cultivations in liquid medium enriched with paclobutrazol or ancymidol. The temporary immersion system led to perform successful ex vitro adaptation of Leucojum aestivum plants. © 2014 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien.