In vitro propagation of Georgia plume, Elliottia racemosa, a threatened Georgia endemic

Abstract

Elliottia racemosa, commonly called Georgia plume, is one of the rarest native plants in Georgia. Tissue culture protocols were developed for propagation and conservation. A series of studies evaluated disinfestation treatments, explant types and age, light condition, and plant growth regulators. Adventitious shoots were induced on a medium supplemented with 10 mu-M TDZ + 5 mu-M IAA, with transferred elongation of shoots after transfer to media containing 2iP. High rooting frequencies were obtained under in vitro and ex vitro conditions with over 85% survival of plantlets transferred to greenhouse conditions. Tissue culture appears to be a promising approach for the propagation and conservation of this rare and threatened plant. Morphological and histological evaluations of cultures during induction and development were conducted using light and scanning electron microscopy.