title: Improvement of Aconitum napellus micropropagation by liquid culture on floating membrane rafts.
abstract: An efficient method was developed using floating membrane rafts (Liferaft(™)) for the micropropagation of Aconitum napellus (Ranunculaceae), a cut flower crop with a low natural propagation rate. This was achieved by introducing shoot tips into culture on Murashige and Skoog's (1962) solid medium, or liquid medium-supported rafts, supplemented by different levels of benzyl adenine (BA). Optimum shoot proliferation on solid medium required 4mg/l BA, whereas for expiants supported on rafts optimal proliferation was achieved at 0.25mg/l BA. Maximum shoot proliferation was found using the floating rafts (propagation ratio of 4.2 per month), 45% higher than the maximum value on solid medium. A similar value could be obtained on solid medium after a period of 2 months. The optimal response to BA was similar for fresh weight gain and shoot length. Growth in a shallow layer of liquid in shake flasks gives a similar shoot multiplication rate to that on floating rafts; however, submerged leaves brown and die.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ornamental Horticulture, ARO Volcani Center, P.O.B. 6, 50250, Bet Dagan, Israel.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Watad
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kochba
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nissim
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gaba