K.A. Timiriazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Academy of Science of the USSR, Botanitcheskaya, 35, Moscow, USSR
In vitro culturing of the isolated tea embryo on nutrient media of different composition was studied. Optimum conditions for clonal micropropagation with the use of micro-cuttings were defined by means of Mathematical Design Technique (FEE 216//32). Effects of phytohormones, vitamines, mineral salts, sucrose, agar concentration and temperature were taken into account As a result, the optimum nutrient medium contained half-strength of MS mineral salts, 2.0 mg/1 benzylammopurine (BAP). 0.2 mg/1 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 2.0% sucrose, 0.8% agar. Optimum levels of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) to induce rooting were found to be within the range of 0.5–2.0 mg/1. The plants with well developed root systems were transplanted in the soil. The tea micropropagation technique enables to produce up to 104-105 plants per microcutting per year.
