REGENERATION OF THE ACTINORHIZAL PLANT MYRICA-GALE L. FROM EPICOTYL EXPLANTS

Induction and proliferation of axillary buds on epicotyl explants of M yrica gale was obtained on a medium consisting of Murashige and Skoog (MS) salts, vitamins of Gamborg et al., and supplemented with 2.5 mu M of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). No proliferation was obtained with the cytokinins 6-furfurylaminopurine (kinetin) or 6(gamma(2)-dimethplallyl amino)-purine (2iP) at the tested concentrations. On the resulting mic roshoots, root induction and elongation were promoted by reduced mediu m strength (1/3 MS) and high light intensity (25-30 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) ), respectively. The effects of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were more complex and dependent on medium strength and light intensity. However, a high rooting rate (73.3%) was obtained with 1.23 mu M IBA in 1/3 MS medium, under high light intensity. Rooted microshoots were successfu lly acclimatised under semi-aseptic conditions by transfer to a liquid medium, then to vermiculite and finally to soil. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.