ISHS Acta Horticulturae 314: II International Symposium on Propagation of Ornamental Plants
PRODUCTION OF VIRUS-INDEXED IMPATIENS BY MERISTEM CULTURE |
| Authors: | A. Gera, K. Dehan |
| Abstract:
New Guinea impatiens (NGI) was found to be naturally infected with six viruses. These viruses include tomato spotted wilt (TSWV) vectored by thrips species and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) vectored by aphids. These two viruses cause economically important yield losses, and have become an increasingly severe problem for greenhouse growers due to the rapid and widespread dissemination of the thrips. A meristem tip culture propagation procedure was developed which has shown promissing results in producing healthy NGI. Tips are removed under sterile conditions and grown in vitro. The resulting plants are transplanted and grown in isolation. Plants are indexed for detectable TSWV and CMV using ELISA, sap inoculation on indicator plants and/or electron microscopy. Nuclear stocks are derived from individually test plants, and grown in an insect-proof greenhouse. Propagation stocks are derived from nuclear stocks. Plants are indexed again for virus diseases. Plant material from the propagation stocks are used for mass production. The production of a virus-free stock is now an essential part of plant propagation, and use of advanced methodology will be of great importance with the advent of 1992. | |
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