AN EFFICIENT IN VITRO CLONAL PROPAGATION METHOD FOR ACONITUM NAPELLUS

An efficient method was developed using floating membrane rafts (Liferaft^™) for the micropropagation of Aconitum napellus (Ranunculaceae), a cut flower crop with a low natural propagation rate.
This was achieved by introducing GA₃ – treated shoot tips to culture on benzyl adenine (BA) – supplemented solid Murashige and Skoog (1962) media or onto membrane rafts floating on liquid media of the same composition.
Optimum shoot proliferation on solid medium required 4mg l^-1 BA, whereas for explants supported on rafts optimal proliferation was achieved at 0.25mg l^-1 BA. Maximum shoot proliferation was found using the floating rafts (propagation ratio of 4.2 per month), 45% higher than on solid medium.
A similar value could be obtained on solid medium after a period of 2 months.
The optimal response to BA was similar for fresh weight gain and shoot length.
Growth in a shallow layer of liquid in shake flasks gave a similar shoot multiplication rate to that on floating rafts; however, submerged leaves browned and died.
The above results indicate the efficiency of using membrane rafts floating on liquid medium for in vitro propagation of Aconitum napellus. Using this method, many clones were propagated and flowered after planting in the greenhouse.

VII International Symposium on Flowerbulbs

M. Kochba, V. Gaba, A. Nissim, A.A. Watad

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.430.41