Effect of Cultivar and Nutrient Medium on In Vitro Shoot Formation on Capitulum Explants of Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the shoot formation
capacity of the capitulum explants of some gerbera cultivars in different
nutrient media. Immature capitulum explants of the gerbera cultivars
Ameretto, Red Bull, Ruby Red and Yanara were cultured on Pierik
medium (P) with different concentrations of benzyladenine (BA) and
Radice and Marconi medium (RM). The main P and RM media were used
either in liquid form using cotton wool as support or solidified with agar.
There was a significant interaction between the different media and the
gerbera cultivars in all the parameters measured. The gerbera cultivars
showed different responses to various media compositions with regard to
shoot formation on the capitulum explant.There was a general increase in
vitrification rate with the increase in the BA concentration in the medium.
Shoots formed in liquid media showed a high vitrification rate.