Factors affecting tissue culture of Damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the regeneration ability of Damask rose. Single-node explants were surface sterilised with 10% chlorox for 15 min and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations of N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) or kinetin (Kin) separately or in combination with different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Combination of 2.5–3 mg/l BA and 0.1 mg/l IBA was the most suitable treatment for proliferation. In vitro derived shoots were subcultured four times on the fresh medium within a 4-week period. Other treatments such as explant orientation (horizontal, vertical and oblique) and explant wounding were also examined but did not affect shoot multiplication rate significantly. Several experiments were carried out to stimulate in vitro rooting of Damask rose. Application of different media such as MS, 1/2 MS, 1/3 MS and 1/4 MS with different concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), IBA and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) did not produce satisfactory results. Quick-dip method using sterilised 0–2000 mg/l IAA, IBA and NAA solutions was also studied. Other treatments such as using various concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA) in combination with various concentrations of IAA, IBA and NAA, and using various concentrations of sucrose and agar did not produce any roots. The best treatment for rooting of shoots was 2.5 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for 2 weeks in MS medium and then transferring the explants to MS medium without any growth regulator. Plantlets were acclimatised in a soil mixture consisting of peat moss and sand 1:1 (v/v) and successfully transferred to the greenhouse after 3 weeks.