Micropropagation of valley oak shoots from seedling explants

Main and interactive effects of basal medium and cytokinin concentration on bud and shoot development of micropropagated valley oak explants were examined. Stem segments with axillary buds were placed on BTM (Broad Leaved Tree Medium), GD (Gresshoff-Doy) and WPM (Woody Plant Medium) media supplemented with 0.3, 0.7 and 1.5 mg 1^–1 of BAT (6-benzylaminopurine). Overall, BTM and GD media were superior for the micropropagation of this species, and both media promoted development of vigorous and relatively abundant shoots. Conversely, fewer shoots were initiated on WPM medium and those produced were frequently chlorotic. Irrespective of basal medium, the quantity of shoots produced after nine weeks generally increased as the concentration of BAP increased, but rosettes with short internodes and numerous leaves predominated on media supplemented with 0.7 or 1.5 mg 1^–1 of BAR Shoots on media with 0.3 mg 1^–1 of BAP, however, exhibited the long internodes and two or three leaves per shoot characteristic of typical valley oak sprouts, and were most suitable for subsequent micropropagation procedures.