Carbon Dioxide-gassed Fluorocarbon Enhances Micropropagation of Rose (Rosa Chinesis Jacq.)

The inert perfluorochemical (PFC) liquid, perfluorodecalin (Flutec PP6), has been used to increase the CO supply to cultured shoots of Rosa chinensis Jacq. cv. Baby Love. Culture of shoots in semi-solid medium overlaying CO-gassed PFC (2 mbar; 5 min repeated every 7 days) for up to 42 days, increased biomass as reflected by significant (P<0.01) increases in shoot number, number of leaves per shoot and mean shoot fresh weight. Additionally, there were significant (P<0.01) increases in the number of roots and their fresh and dry weights following a further 10 days of culture on rooting medium prior to transfer of plants to the glasshouse. Treatment of cultured rose shoots with CO-gassed PFC also significantly reduced (P<0.01) the accumulation of phenolic compounds in roots. The total chlorophyll of aerial parts was unaffected, although total protein in shoots and roots was significantly (P<0.01) lower than in the control. The biotechnological implications of this novel cultural régime are discussed for the micropropagation of woody species.