In Vitro Plant Regeneration from Young Capitulum Explants of Gerbera jamesonii

An efficient protocol was developed for large-scale propagation using young capitulum explants in Gerbera jamesonii. Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 6- Benzylaminopurine at 7 mg/l in combination with 0.1mg/l indole-3-acetic acid was found to be most effective in initiating multiple shoots at the rate of 10 per explants, when placed in continuous dark after 30 days in culture. By repeated subculturing of capitulum explants, a high frequency of shoot multiplication was established. Hundred percent of rooting was achieved with 1.5mg/l of indole-3-acetic acid in combination with 0.5mg/l of indole-3-butyric acid. Regenerated plantlets were established in garden soil were uniform and identical to mother plant in respect to growth characteristics and morphology.