FACTORS AFFECTING SHOOT ORGANOGENESIS IN LEAF DISC CULTURE OF AFRICANVIOLET

Shoot organogenesis in African Violet was affected by factors includin g leaf age, wounding and leaf disc orientation. A gradient of regenera tive potential was found among individual leaves on a plant. This rege nerative potential was not directly proportional to the juvenility of leaf tissues. Wound treatment increased shoot organogenesis only when the wound was in direct contact with the medium, possibly by increasin g nutrient and hormone uptake. Leaf disc orientation did not affect sh oot number per disc but did determine the position of shoot organogene sis. Reduced gas exchange significantly reduced shoot production. This study also showed that adventitious roots originated from spongy meso phyll cells. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.