Effects of culture conditions on multiple shoot induction from inflorescence and RAPD analysis of cloned plants in Limonium sinensis (Girard) Kuntze, var. Golden Diamond

The optimum physical and chemical microenvironment for micropropagation of Limonium sinensis (Girard) Kuntze, var. Golden Diamond was established from immature inflorescence segments as explant. The highest frequency (62 %) of axillary shoot induction was obtained on MS medium (Murashige and Skoog Physiol Plant 15: 473-497, 1962) supplemented with 8.88 mu M BA, 1.34 mu M of NAA and two growth additives cysteine (142.33 mu M), and glutamine (684.22 mu M). In the subsequent culture maximum average number of shoots (11.13+/-0.34) were obtained from micro-shoot explant on MS medium supplemented with the same additives and 2.22 mu M BA. During subcultures the problem of vitrification was mitigated through increasing agar concentration from 0.8 % to 1.0 % and providing better ventilation. The in vitro developed shoots were rooted on MS medium supplemented with 2.46 mu M IBA and 0.88 mu M BA. Rooted plants were acclimatized successfully in the greenhouse with 80 % survival rate. RAPD analysis using 15 random decamer primers generated monomorphic banding pattern in micropropagated plants and similar to those of mother plant revealing the genetic integrity of regenerants.