In vitro plant regeneration of Ilex paraguariensis (Aquifoliaceae)

Nodal segments as well as shoot tips and apical meristems of 2-yr-old "mate " plants (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil,) were cultured in vitro to establish micropropagation systems. Maximum shoot regeneration was achieved when nod al segments were cultured with 1/4 Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 3% sucrose, We induced roots to differentiate by transferring the regenerated shoots onto the same medium, solidified with 2.5 g Phytagel per l and suppl emented with indole-3-butyric acid (7.4 mu M) and finally transferring shoo ts to 1/4 TMS medium with 3% sucrose and lacking growth regulators. Plants were successfully established in soil.