In vitro production of male sterile Zinnia elegans

Abstract

Axillary bud proliferation of Zinnia elegans Jacq . was accomplished from vegetative bud explants of greenhouse-grown plants . Photoperiod extension via metalarc lamps in the greenhouse stock plant environment significantly increased both the quantity and quality of explants . Shoot cultures initiated from axillary buds of identified male sterile plants proliferated best on a medium with 1 gM BAP . Microshoots exhibited 80% rooting on media without growth regulators, and 100% acclimatization of rooted plantlets was accomplished in a lighted, high humidity chamber . In vitro-produced male sterile plants were more compact, more heavily branched, and demonstrated earlier flowering than seed-propagated plants . These male steriles were cross pollinated to male fertile lines to verify their ability to serve as a uniform female parent .

Comparison of seed-derived with micropropagated male-sterile plants ofTagetes erectaL. for F1hybrid seed production

“…This effect may have been due to the direct result of higher rates of CO 2 assimilation and stomatal conductance in tissue culture raised plants (Cameron et al, 1985). The superiority of in vitro male sterile Zinnia elegans plants over their seed-derived counterparts has also been demonstrated (Rogers et al, 1992). They also found that in vitro produced plants initiated flowers approximately three weeks earlier, with more plants with smaller head size as compared to seedderived plants.…”