CARBON-DIOXIDE GASSED FLUOROCARBON ENHANCES MICROPROPAGATION OF ROSE (ROSA-CHINESIS JACQ.)

The inert perfluorochemical (PFC) liquid, perfluorodecalin (Flutec PP6 ), has been used to increase the CO2 supply to cultured shoots of Rosa chinensis Jacq. cv. Baby Love. Culture of shoots in semi-solid medium overlaying CO2-gassed PFC (2 mbar; 5 min repeated every 7 days) for u p to 42 days, increased biomass as reflected by significant (P<0.01) i ncreases in shoot number, number of leaves per shoot and mean shoot fr esh weight. Additionally, there were significant (P<0.01) increases in the number of roots and their fresh and dry weights following a furth er 10 days of culture on rooting medium prior to transfer of plants to the glasshouse. Treatment of cultured rose shoots with CO2-gassed PFC also significantly reduced (P<0.01) the accumulation of phenolic comp ounds in roots. The total chlorophyll of aerial parts was unaffected, although total protein in shoots and roots was significantly (P<0.01) lower than in the control. The biotechnological implications of this n ovel cultural regime are discussed for the micropropagation of woody s pecies.