ASHS 2015 Annual Conference

Miscanthus sinensis can be a promising species for biomass production or beautiful ornamentals for landscaping. An efficient in vitro plant propagation system was established in Miscanthus senensis 'Strictus'. Meristems from the field plant were sterilized in 25% Clorox with two drops of Tween-20 and then cultured in the shoot germination medium [Murashige and Skoog (MS) charcoal (1 g/L) medium supplemented with 6-Benzylaminopurine (BA) at 1 mg/L  for 4 weeks. Fifty percent of the explants germinated and produced in vitro shoots. Different plant growth regulator combinations were tested for multi-shoot production; the best results were obtained when BA 2 mg/L was added in MS medium, with a mean of three shoots multiplied from a single shoot within 3 weeks. Single shoots were transferred to MS medium with 1 g/L activated charcoal for 2 weeks, and 100% of the shoots formed functional roots, which resulted in a 100% survival rate when acclimatized in potting soil. This research provides a promising method to large scale propagation of Miscanthus senensis in a limited time.