IMIDAZOLE FUNGICIDES AND PACLOBUTRAZOL ENHANCE CYTOKININ-INDUCED ADVENTITIOUS SHOOT PROLIFERATION IN ARACEAE

The imidazole fungicides imazalil, prochloraz, and triflumizole and th e triazole growth retardant paclobutrazol strongly enhanced the shoot- inducing effect of 6-benzyladenine in Spathiphyllum floribundum 'Petit e' Schott, Numerous small shoots and shoot meristems appeared at the b asal part of the plant. This effect was confirmed when such widely dif ferent cytokinins as zeatin, meta-topolin, and thidiazuron were combin ed with imazalil, Neither these fungicides nor paclobutrazol showed cy tokinin effects on cytokinin-free medium, The number of roots per expl ant could be augmented using particular concentrations, depending on t he fungicide used, The combination prochloraz and 6-benzyladenine had a similar effect on Anthurium andreanum, which suggests that Araceae a re especially sensitive to this interaction.