| Abstract Detail
Genetics Section Lokuge, M A [1], Wilson, K G [1], Francko, D A [1]. Regeneration of Trachycarpus fortunei (Windmill palm) through Organogenesis. Trachycarpus fortunei (Arecaceae) is an attractive palm with foliage that can withstand extremely low environmental temperatures (ca. -13C to -14C) without damage. Native to temperate and subtropical mountainous areas of Asia, it is now a major landscape palm in warm-temperate regions worldwide, including the U.S. With modest improvements in cold resistance, this palm is a potential candidate for general horticultural use in even colder regions. The only known method of propagation of this species is through seeds, and seedlings can exhibit a great variability in selected characters, which cannot be evaluated until the palm is several years old. Thus the advantages to be gained by eliminating this variability are immense, if cloning of selected, high performance palms could be achieved via tissue culture techniques. We report a novel method for clonal propagation of T. fortunei using meristem tissue as the explant source. Dissected meristems were allowed to grow in callus induction medium for about four weeks. The resulting calli were transferred into media with gradually decreasing concentrations of auxin (2,4-D) in four-week intervals. Shoot induction occurred directly from callus with the introduction of low concentration of BAP without forming somatic embryos. Shoots were then grown under a 16:8h photoperiod in shoot germination medium and root formation occurred without further treatment. Plantlets were grown under controlled aseptic conditions until they are ready for acclimatization in the greenhouse. Our SEM studies suggest that greenhouse acclimation is required for high plantlet survival. We now have multiple late-juvenile stage palms (short trunks and mature foliage) successfully growing under greenhouse conditions
1 - Miami University, Department of Botany, 316 Pearson Hall, Oxford, Ohio, 45056, USA
Keywords: Trachycarpus fortunei Regeneration Organogenesis Benzylamino purine.
Presentation Type: Poster Session: 32-53 Location: Special Event Center (Cliff Lodge) Date: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2004 Time: 12:30 PM Abstract ID:374 |