A protocol for in vitro mass propagation of Asiatic hybrids of lily through liquid stationary culture

A simple, rapid and cost-effective in vitro scheme has been proposed for ma ss propagating two cultivars of Asiatic lily hybrids. An average of seven b ulblets was formed after 17 d when 1 X 1 cm(3) bulb scale segments (explant s) were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 3% sucrose and 0.5 muM alpha -naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). On MS medium containing 0.5 muM N AA and 6 or 9% sucrose, depending on the cultivar, large numbers of bulblet s of increased size (3.5-5.0 cm in circumference) were formed under a 16/8 h photoperiod. A continuous system of mass: propagation of bulblets was ach ieved through in vitro scale formation (secondary explants) on MS medium su pplemented with 23 muM kinetin and 0.5 muM NAA, as well as scale proliferat ion on MS basal liquid stationary medium. Upon transplantation all bulblets sprouted, of which 40% flowered in the first season. Under ideal condition s, ca. 9.68 X 10(5) bulblets: can be produced from a single scale segment i n 1 yr ey following the systematic propagation steps proposed here.