Effects of bulb desiccation and storage on the in vitro propagation of hyacinth

The effect of long-storage and silica gel desiccation of hyacinth bulbs (Hyacinthus orientalis L.) on in vitro bulblet formation was investigated.Bulbs of 3 cultivars were stored at 25°C and 50–60% relative humidity for 17 months. This long-term storage of bulbs markedly enhanced bulblet initiation from scales and growth of regenerated bulblets.Bulbs of 5 cultivars were desiccated with silica gel for 5 and 20 h before in vitro propagation. The total number of bulblets increased as a result of 5 h desiccation with silica gel. Bulb desiccation for 20 h caused a large increase in the growth rate of bulblets. This desiccation treatment with silica gel is a practical method to obtain many and more regenerative explants in the in vitro propagation of hyacinth.