THE EFFECTS OF ROOT MEDIA AND CO₂ ON ACCLIMATIZATION AND GROWTH OF MICROCUTTINGS OF ANTHURIUM, DIEFFENBACHIA, HOMALOMENA AND SPATHIPHYLLUM

The aroids are propagated in vitro commercially and cultivated for ornamental purposes.
Slow growth of plantlets after transit to ex vitro conditions, especially on mineral media, decreases profitability in commercial micropropagation.
The objective of this investigation was to hasten the growth of plantlets of some popular aroids following transplantation.

The effect of organic media (peat moss with perlite (3:1), and Jiffy-7) and mineral root media (perlite and rockwool) on the ex vitro growth of rooted microcuttings of Anthurium x cultorum, Dieffenbachia ‘Camilla’, Homalomena ‘Emerald Gem’ and Spathiphyllum wallisii at two CO₂ concentrations (350 or 1200 μmol mol^-1) were investigated.
After transplantation, the microcuttings were cultivated 2 weeks at 50 μmol m^-2 s^-1 PPFD (photosynthetic photon flux density), and then at 150 μmol m^-2 s^-1 PPFD. Peat moss with perlite (3:1) and Jiffy-7 were the best substrates for Anthurium x cultorum grown at atmospheric CO₂ concentration.
At 1200 μmol mol^-1 CO₂ the highest fresh weights of Anthurium x cultorum shoots were obtained on rockwool and on organic substrates.
At atmospheric CO₂ concentration the best substrate for Dieffenbachia was peat moss with perlite (3:1), at 1200 μmol mol^-1 CO₂ concentration peat moss with perlite or perlite.
Peat moss with perlite (3:1) and perlite were the best media for Homalomena cultivated at atmospheric CO₂ concentration, and perlite at 1200 μmol mol^-1 CO₂. Growth of Spathiphyllum wallisii was unaffected by root media.

International Symposium on Plant Production in Closed Ecosystems

B. Matysiak, J. Nowak

acclimatization, Anthurium, CO₂ enrichment, Dieffenbachia, Homalomena, root medium, Spathiphyllum

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.440.110