Abstract
Aseptic cultures of calla were established from rhizome-bud explants which were surface-sterilized in 4% NaOCl solution for 5
min. Cultures were initiated on a medium containing Murashige and Skoog (MS)-salts, benzyladenine (
2
mg
l
−1=8.9
μM) and agar (5
g
l
−1). Explants were transferred at 4-week intervals, on MS basal medium supplemented with kinetin (
5
mg
l
−
1=23.2
μM), until the onset of proliferation (ca. 2 months). Thereafter, four subcultures were made in liquid media similar to the latter one. Shoots produced developed rhizomes and/or rooted plantlets depending on the culture conditions. Rhizomes were successfully formed on MS-basal media containing sucrose (70
g
l
−1) and Na-dikegulac (
1.69
μM=0.5
mg
l
−1). They were germinated and grown in greenhouse to develop flowering potplants. The highest multiplication rate and lowest hyperhydricity were achieved, in a medium containing 2-isopentenyladenine (
12.3
μM=2.5
mg
l
−1), by culturing the explants at 4-week intervals in two ways: (1) on solid media (6
g
agar
l
−1) or (2) alternatively in liquid (no agar) and solid (6
g
agar
l
−1) media. Adding alpha-naphthalene acetic acid (
1
mg
l
−1=5.4
μM) to a solid MS-basal medium containing MS salts at a half strength supported the fastest growth and development of roots. Hardening-off and acclimatizing the rooted plantlets led to development of flowering potplants served for producing white attractive cutflowers.