Date of Award
1-1-2009
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Plant and Soil Science
First Advisor
Preece, John
Abstract
In vitro experiments were conducted using leaf explants from organically grown Petunia x hybrida &lsquo`Blue Picotee&rsquo' cultured on media prepared from organic hydroponic solutions, Murashigi and Skoog (MS) vitamins and benzyladenine. Explants cultured on MS regenerated the best. Explants cultured on Aqua Power produced shoots, had higher weights and lower necrosis than on other organic media. The Aqua Power results were not repeatable. In testing Aqua Power, Earth Juice and Peaceful Valley at ⅓, ⅔ and full concentrations, the explants on Aqua Power were 100% necrotic at all concentrations. Explants on Earth Juice and Peaceful Valley were chlorotic but had the best growth, measured by weight and necrosis, at the lowest concentration. Shoot organogenesis occurred on explants at all concentrations on Peaceful Valley. When using liquid petunia extract media, no shoots regenerated. On these media, the highest explant weights were with 7.5 g·L-1 agar and necrosis decreased as agar concentration increased.
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