The Growth of Shoot Apices and Inflorescences of Carex flacca Schreb. in Aseptic Culture

Abstract

The vegetative apex and young inflorescence of Carex flacca have been grown in aseptic culture for several weeks on a defined medium. Explants comprised the apical dome and the three youngest leaf primordia, and the young inflorescence complete with bracts, excised shortly after the initiation of the lateral spikes. Some growth occurred on the basal medium which contained inorganic salts, sucrose, and vitamins, but growth was increased and the life span extended by the addition of certain other compounds. The most effective additive was gibberellic acid, which, however, resulted in precocious differentiation of the meristematic tissues and the differentiation of abnormal xylem. These deleterious effects of gibberellic acid were counteracted by the addition of kinetin. This substance did not otherwise affect vegetative apices but it resulted in a further increase in growth and life span of inflorescences.