ESTABLISHING MICROPROPAGATION CONDITIONS FOR 5 COTONEASTER GENOTYPES

Micropropagation from shoot tips of five Cotoneaster genotypes C. fran chetii, C dammeri var. radicans, C. dammeri 'Skogholm', C. dammeri 'Ei chholz N degrees 1' and C. dammeri 'Streib's Findling') is described. For culture initiation and multiplication, a medium based on Murashige and Skoog basal salts was suitable for all genotypes. For multiplicat ion, 4.4 mu M 6-benzyladenine provided the optimum results, while auxi ns proved to be essential for rooting in vitro. However, direct acclim atization of unrooted microcuttings was more efficient than in vitro r ooting and acclimatization of rooted plants.