MICROPROPAGATION PROCESS WHICH IS SUITABLE FOR THE CACTUS FAMILY

摘要

The invention relates to a mass micropropagation method which is suitable for the cactus family. The inventive method is based on suppressing the effect of the endogenous auxins in order to activate the endogenous cytokinins which, together with the cytokinins that supplement the culture medium, activate the development of dormant meristems in the areoles, in which the only limiting factor is the quantity of said structures and it is intrinsic to the species being treated. The novel method comprises the use of explants having a suitable thickness to enable the action of the endogenous and exogenous cytokinins, such as to promote the stimulation of between 80 and 100 % of the dormant meristems which develop in the form of shoots with the ability to induce roots and to adapt to ex vitro conditions in the manner of plants in greenhouses. The subculture is formed when the shoots reach the required size. The inventive micropropagation process can be maintained for a minimum of 2 years without any change to the characteristics of the shoots produced.