In vitro propagation of Tulbaghia simmleri

Leaf, peduncle and bulb scale explants were excised from Tulbaghia simmleri Beauv. and placed on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), benzyladenin e (BA), thidiazuron (TDZ), kinetin and 2,4-didhlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4 -D). Only peduncle and bulb explants produced adventitious buds, and in the case of twin scales, axillary shoots. For peduncle explants 1 mg l(-1) NAA , and the combination of 0.1 mg l(-1) TDZ and 1 mg l(-1) 2,4-D gave the bes t response. TDZ (0.5 mg l(-1)) proved to be optimal for bulb explants. Shoo t initiation using twin scales was most successful and took place within fo ur weeks. For shoot elongation and multiplication, shoots were transferred to MS medium containing kinetin (1 mg l(-1)) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (2 mg l(-1)). After four weeks the shoots were rooted on MS medium supplem ented with 1 mg l(-1) IAA. Shoots formed on peduncle explants were after 16 weeks transferred to MS medium containing 0.2% activated charcoal (AC) for root initiation. The plantlets were successfully hardened off in vermiculi te in the misthouse.