In vitro propagation of three commercial cut flower cultivars of Anthurium andraeanum Hort

In vitro propagation of Anthurium andraeanum Hort. cut flower cultivars viz. Lima White, Tropical White and Tropical Red through organogenesis using mature plant derived leaf explants was established on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with different growth regulators. Cultivar, stage and different regions of the source leaf, and type of growth regulators significantly influenced callus induction. Explants from folded brown leaves were superior in induction of callus. Half strength MS medium fortified with 0.88 microM of benzyiadenine (BA), 0.9 microM of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.46 microM of kinetin (Kn) at pH 5.5 was most effective for callus induction. Transfer of callus to medium with 0.54 microM of NAA in place of 2,4-D induced higher number of shoots. Subsequent cultures displayed enhanced rate of shoot initiation and multiplication. Transfer of shoots onto half strength MS medium supplemented with 0.54 microM of NAA favoured rooting of shoots. Cultivar Tropical White was superior in callus, shoot and root induction compared to Lima White and Tropical Red. Plantlets after acclimation in greenhouse were transferred to net-house, that exhibited ninety seven per cent survival. Plants flowered normally between 12 and 15 months and were morphologically similar to that of the mother plants.