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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Washington, D.C. » National Arboretum » Floral and Nursery Plants Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #136265
Title: MICROPROPAGATION OF CHINESE REDBUD (CERCIS YUNNANENSIS) INCLUDING INDUCTION OF ADVENTITIOUS SHOOTS FROM LEAF PIECES

Author
item CHEONG, EUNJU - FAS
item Pooler, Margaret

Submitted to: In Vitro Plant
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/2002
Publication Date: 9/3/2003
Citation: Cheong, E., Pooler, M.R. 2003. Micropropagation of Chinese Redbud (Cercis Yunnanensis)Through Axillary Bud Breading and Induction of Adventitious Shoots From Leaf Pieces. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol - Plant. 2003. v:39, pp:455-458.

Interpretive Summary: Redbud (Cercis spp.) are popular ornamental small trees or shrubs, valued commercially for their showy early spring bloom, heart-shaped glossy leaves, and adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. Due to propagation difficulties, studies have been conducted to assess the use of tissue culture for mass propagation of eastern redbud (C. canadensis L.) using shoots, cotyledonary nodes, and somatic embryos. In-vitro studies using the Chinese redbud have not been conducted, despite the horticultural merits of the species, including dark green leaves, densely arranged flower buds, and a more compact growth habit than C. canadensis. Our objectives in this study were to develop a high efficiency, multiple shoot production system for C. yunnanensis, and to investigate factors leading to adventitious shoot formation from leaf tissue. Development of these systems could be useful in the production of transgenic disease resistant Cercis plants.

Technical Abstract: Factors affecting in-vitro shoot production and regeneration of Cercis yunnanensis were investigated by comparing various growth regulators and explant types. For optimum shoot production from axillary buds, Murashige and Skoog (MS) media containing BA, either alone or in combination with a low concentration of TDZ, resulted in the greatest number of shoots formed per explant (>3). Explants (2 mm long) containing one axillary bud placed in direct contact with the medium yielded the most shoots per bud (1.6) when grown on growth regulator-free medium. Root formation on 70-80% of shoot explants was accomplished using either IBA or NAA in the medium, with significantly more roots formed on explants that contained an apical bud than on explants without an apical bud. Direct shoot organogenesis from leaf explants occurred using MS medium containing 10-30 micromolar TDZ, with up to 42 percent of leaf explants producing shoots.