THE EFFECTS OF GROWTH REGULATORS ON IN VITRO AXILLARY SHOOT PROLIFERATION AND ROOTING OF ERICA MULTIFLORA

Multiple shoots were induced on nodal segments of a mature plant of Erica multiflora L. Axillary shoots produced on uncontaminated explants were excised, segmented, and recultured on the same medium. The effect of Anderson medium, augmented with different concentrations of 2iP either singly or in combination with NAA, as potential medium for shoot multiplication by nodal segments was investigated. In the following experiment equal molar concentrations of four cytokinins (2iP, kinetin, zeatin, and BA) were studied for ability to induce axillary shoot development from single node stem segments. The highest rate of axillary shoot proliferation was induced on Anderson medium supplemented with 19.68 μM 2iP and 2.5 g l-1 PhytagelTM. Four IBA concentrations (0, 0.12, 0.24 or 0.49 μM) were studied to determine the optimum conditions for in vitro rooting of microshoots. The highest rooting percentage was obtained with IBA at 0.12 and 0.24 mM (72 and 75%, respectively).