JASMONIC ACID STIMULATES SHOOT AND BULB FORMATION OF GARLIC IN-VITRO

Although much information is available concerning the involvement of j asmonates in the regulation of plant development, few reports are devo ted to their effects in tissue culture. In the present study, the infl uence of jasmonic acid (JA) on shoot and bulb formation in tissue cult ure of garlic (Allium sativum cv. Ptuj) was studied. Isolated basal pl ates were placed onto Gamborg's B5 medium. JA significantly enhanced t he shoot and bulb development in concentrations from 1-10 muM. When th e combination of 10 muM JA and 5 muM 2-iP was used in the initiation m edia, the average number of shoots was 30 after 6 weeks of culture. Th e bulbs formed on approximately 50% of shoots. Results described in th is article show that JA might play an important role in the formation of storage organs in plants, in this case on garlic bulbs.