(292) In Vitro Rooting of Bigtooth Maple Microshoots

Abstract

<jats:p>Double-node microshoots of bigtooth maple (<jats:italic>Acer grandidentatum</jats:italic> Nutt.) were rooted in vitro on Driver-Kuniyuki Walnut (DKW) tissue culture media containing indole acetic acid (IAA). Microshoots represented six sources from three locations within Texas and New Mexico. Microshoots were placed in Phytatrays II™ containing DKW media with no plant growth regulator (DKW0) to reduce the high cytokinin levels used for shoot proliferation. Microshoots were induced to form roots for 15 days by placing them on DKW media containing IAA at 0.01, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 15 or 20 μmol. Rooting frequency, the number of leaves and callus area were recorded every 30 days for 60 days. Rooting frequency increased up to 29% as IAA concentration increased (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic>= 0.004). However, as much as 71% of shoots for one of the three Guadalupe Mountain, Texas, sources rooted without auxin treatment after 30 days. The IAA concentration also affected the number of leaves per shoot (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic>= 0.0228) which averaged seven and callus area (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic>= &lt;0.0001) which averaged 52 mm<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>. Average leaf size was 307 mm<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>. We conclude that IAA induces rooting in microshoots of bigtooth maple after 15 days of root induction. However, one source rooted without auxin treatment. The presence of callus does not interfere with root formation.</jats:p>