In vitro shoot proliferation determined by explant orientation of juvenile and mature Quercus rubra L.

Shoot cultures of Quercus rubra (L.) were established from both juvenile and adult plant material. Initial explants from epicormic shoots formed on the basal zone of the trunks had a greater capacity for in vitro establishment than explants from crown branches. The growth of vigorous axillary shoots was obtained by culturing decapitated shoots horizontally on Woody Plant Medium supplemented with 0.2 mg l(-1) of 6-benzylaminopurine. After 3 weeks of culture the shoots were transferred to fresh medium for two more weeks, giving a 5-week multiplication cycle. Efficient shoot production was achieved by combining three treatments favoring the growth of lateral buds: excision of the apex, horizontal culture and cytokinin treatment. The addition of indoleacetic acid or indolebutyric acid to the multiplication medium did not improve shoot proliferation rates, and naphthaleneacetic acid was detrimental. Recycling the same explant for several successive subcultures improved the efficiency of the propagation procedure. Using the optimal multiplication procedures, nine clones (six of juvenile origin and three from adult trees) were tested in vitro and it was found that genotype and age affected performance.