IMPROVED MICROPROPAGATION SYSTEM

摘要

In a method of micropropagation, certified plants (1) received in tubes (2) are divided to provide nodal and apex cuttings (3, 4). These cuttings are planted in an agar gel (5) containing macro- and micro-nutrients in a tray (6), and enclosed in plastics sheeting (7) for growth under high photo photon flux and carbon dioxide enriched conditions to provide microplants. The microplants are divided to provide nodal and apex cuttings (8, 9), of which the apex cuttings (9) are replanted in a foam substrate (11) and again enclosed in gas and vapour permeable plastics sheeting (13) for further growth, again in a high photo photon flux and enriched carbon dioxide environment. Cyclic repetition of initially growth on agar and subsequently growth on substrate enable very substantial numbers of genetically consistent plants to be grown. In a final stage of the process, cuttings (16) taken from the growth arrays (14) which develop within the enclosures (13) are transferred for planting out in a substantially natural environment.