ISHS Acta Horticulturae 812: III International Symposium on Acclimatization and Establishment of Micropropagated Plants
MICROPROPAGATION OF ORNAMENTALS: THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE? |
| Authors: | P.E. Read, J.E. Preece |
| Keywords: | micropropagation, somaclonal variation, forcing techniques, herbaceous ornamentals, woody ornamentals, plant growth regulators |
| Abstract:
In the more than a century since the seminal publication by Gottlieb Haberlandt (1902) in which he elucidated the principles underlying the concepts of plant tissue culture, monumental progress has been achieved. If one reviews this progress, it becomes clear that several discoveries were requisite to the stepwise developments leading to employment of plant tissue culture technologies for successful propagation of horticultural plants. Significant among these discoveries were the identification of auxins and cytokinins as requirements for practical plant micropropagation. Parallel and subsequent to these discoveries were research efforts resulting in refinements of culture environment and of the medium composition. Although numerous strides have been accomplished with fruit, agronomic and vegetable species and cultivars, this paper will focus on micropropagation of ornamental plants. Early successes with members of the Orchidaceae were followed by demonstrations of successful micropropagation of numerous other ornamental species and elite genotypes. Faithful reproduction (clonal propagation) was generally achieved, but somaclonal variation occurred all too frequently. Such aberrations occasionally resulted in novel and useful introductions, but also led to complications and disputes. Modern biotechnologies can now aid researchers in identification of clonal fidelity and provide insights into potential future precision gene insertion and specialized propagation approaches. Our work of over 35 years experience will be presented in relation to past accomplishments, while presenting newer technologies and developments that may provide researchers with knowledge enabling them to determine the practicality and economic validity for micropropagation to become the “wave of the future” for commercial propagation of ornamental plants. Examples of herbaceous (Chrysanthemum, Petunia) and woody (Rhododendron, Rosmarinus) ornamental micropropagation and forcing solution technologies will also be discussed. | |
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