Micropropagation of Scaevola - Australian native of ornamental horticulture

Abstract

A number of commercially available cultivars of Scaevola aemula, S. albida, S. phlebopetala, S. striata and material collected from the wild of S. glandulifera, S. hookeri and S. ramonissima were successfully propagated by tissue culture. Shoot segments 3-4 cm in length were multiplied in Murashige and Skoog medium without hormones. Addition of 25-150 μmol kinetin/L in the micropropagation medium of S. aemula and S. phlebopetala resulted in the formation of deformed shoots. Tissue cultured shoots rooted in hormone-free medium in 4-6 weeks. Indole-3-butyric acid (10-20 μmol/L) had an effect on rate of root initiation of S. phlebopetala but not on percentage of rooting. A high survival percent..