In vitro propagation of guayule (Parthenium argentatum) - a rubber yielding shrub.

Nodal explants (0.5 to 0.8 cm long) isolated from 2-year old shrubs of guayule, Parthenium argentatum Gray, when cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of KN, BAP, 2,4-D, 2,4-D + BAP, NAA and NAA + BAP produced callus tissues and shoots simultaneously with varying frequencies. Shoots were regenerated with a high frequency (80-88%) from callus on MS medium containing NAA + BAP with or without glutamine. Addition of glutamine to these media improved considerably the number of shoots formed from a known amount of callus. Shoots could be regenerated from 200 day old callus cultures with a very high frequency but the organogenetic capacity declined thereafter. Increase in the concentration of sucrose (upto 4%) significantly enhanced the shoot forming ability of callus, but higher concentrations (6%) suppressed it. Rooting was induced only in dark when IAA, IBA and NAA were used, but 2,4-D could induce them both in light and dark. The system is suitable for the mass propagation of this important rubber yielding plant.