EFFECT OF MEDIUM COMPONENTS ON IN VITRO TUBERIZATION OF GLORIOSA ROTHSCHILDIANA O’BRIEN

Influence of sucrose and mineral salts concentration, as well as activated charcoal in MS medium, on tuber formation of Gloriosa rothschildiana O’Brien ‘Red Dark’ in vitro was studied.
Single shoots, derived from in vitro multiplied material, were used as explants.
Culture medium containing half-strength MS (half-MS) macronutrients proved more successful than full strength MS for the induction and growth of Gloriosa tubers.
Larger tubers were obtained on media containing 6-9%, compared to 3 or 12% sucrose.
The highest mean fresh weight of primary tubers was on explants on medium with half-MS and 6% sucrose, but for the growth of secondary tubers, the medium containing half-MS and 9% sucrose was most successful.
Activated charcoal did not affect the tuberization capability of Gloriosa shoots.