Micropropagation of New and Old World Rose Species

Micropropagation comparisons were made between two Rosa hybrida cvs, Tropicana and Bridal Pink, and two old world spp. R. canina L. and R. damascena Mill. All species exhibited shoot-tip proliferation on a medium containing Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) basic salts plus nicotinic acid (0.5 mg 1^?1), pyridoxine HC1 (0.5 mg 1^?1), thiamin HC1 (0.5 mg 1^?1), glycine (2.0 mg 1^?1), myo-inositol (100 mg 1^?1), sucrose (30 g 1^?1), Bacto agar (8 g 1^?1) and supplemented with growth regulators. Species variation was observed for growth regulator requirement and rate of multiplication not only between the two R. hybrida cvs but also between the old world spp. It was concluded that 2.0 mg 1^?1 of BA was optimal for hybrid roses plus 0.05 and 0.10 mg 1^?1 of NAA for cvs Tropicana and Bridal Pink, respectively. Old world species required lower BA (1.0 mg 1^?1), and 0.15 mg 1^?1 NAA for R. canina and 0.10 mg 1^?1 NAA for R. damascena were optimal for maximum shoot proliferation. Both rooting ability and acclimation to the planting medium were lower in old world spp. compared with R. hybrida cvs.