The Influence of NAA, BA and Temperature on Shoot and Root Development from Begonia×cheimantha Petiole Segments Grown in vitro

The effect of exogenously supplied NAA and BA on the shoot and root formation in isolated petiole segments of Begonia × cheimantha was determined in vitro on a modified White medium at a constant temperature of 24°C. The best development of normally appearing plants was obtained on media containing 0.01 mg × 1 −1 of NAA and 0.5 to 1.0 mg × 1 −1 of BA. Lower concentrations of BA yielded no shoots, higher concentrations promoted shoot formation, but the shoots were abnormal with malformed leaves. Lower concentrations of NAA resulted in poorer survival rate and no roots, with higher concentrations of NAA many roots developed, but these were thickened and their longitudinal growth inhibited. Temperature proved to be of utmost importance for the induction of shoot formation. Thus significantly fewer shoots were formed at the higher temperature (25°C) than at lower temperatures (15 to 20°C). Temperature immediately after initial transfer was of greatest importance: 25°C, during the first week followed by low temperature, produced very few shoots.