IN-VITRO PROPAGATION OF VELTHEIMIA-BRACTEATA AND VELTHEIMIA-BRACTEATALEMON FLAME

In vitro adventitious bud formation was initiated using leaf and bulb explants of both Veltheimia bracteata and V. bracteata 'Lemon Flame'. The initiation medium used consisted of Murashige and Skoog (MS) solid ified with 0.8% agar, and was further supplemented with 100 mgl(-1) my o-inositol, 25 mgl(-1) NaFeEDTA, 0.5 mgl(-1) thiamine-HCl and 3% sucro se. Adventitious bud initiation was stimulated by a combination of BA (2 mgl(-1)) and NAA (0.1 mgl(-1)) Buds were transferred to MS medium s upplemented with 100 mgl(-1) myo-inositol, 3% sucrose and IBA (2 mgl(- 1)) for root initiation. Plantlets were successfully hardened off in v ermiculite under misthouse conditions over a 4 week period. These plan ts were subsequently transferred to a greenhouse and watered twice wee kly. Where was 98% survival of plantlets. Explants from the cultivar ' Lemon Flame', however produced 50% less plantlets in vitro.