IN-VITRO PROPAGATION OF NOTHOFAGUS-ANTARCTICA FROM SPHAEROBLASTS AND SAPLINGS

Nothofagus antarctica is an important component of Tierra del Fuego fo rests. This work determines the suitable culture conditions for in vit ro multiplication and rooting through shoots obtained from saplings an d from sphaeroblasts of a mature tree. Broadleaved Tree Medium was sui table for shoot multiplication. The culture of shoots in a medium with 30 mu M 2iP showed a multiplication rate at day 63 of 1:9 (saplings) and 1:4 (sphaeroblasts). Rooted shoots from saplings and from sphaerob lasts (92% and 52% respectively) were obtained with 0.61 mu M IBA and one week darkness at the induction stage. The protocols developed in t his work allow to propagate iii vitro shoots from saplings and sphaero blasts from mature trees.