PRODUCTION OF PLANTLETS FOR USE AS ARTIFICIAL SEEDS FROM HORSERADISH HAIRY ROOTS FRAGMENTED IN A BLENDER

An efficient method for production of plantlets from horseradish hairy roots (Armoracia rusticana) was developed and the plantlets were enca psulated and used as artificial seeds. Hairy root fragments were obtai ned by fragmentation of hairy roots in a blender after the foot growth , A fragmentation time of 30 s gave the best result on the plantlet fo rmation. Treatment of the hairy roots with naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA , 1.0 mg/l) prior to fragmentation resulted in a decrease In the time required for hairy root growth. Kinetin supplementation of 0.1 mg/l af ter fragmentation (in the plantlet formation stage) resulted in the hi ghest number of plantlets. Furthermore, we found that the kinetin trea tment led to a change in the size distribution of plantlets and inhibi tion of root elongation, which facilitated encapsulation of plantlets. Although the frequency of plantlet development was significantly redu ced by encapsulation in 2% calcium alginate beads, dehydration treatme nt before the encapsulation strongly improved the plantlet development frequency.