Silver nitrate influences in vitro root formation in Decalepis hamiltonii wight and Arn.

Effects of AgNO3 on root formation were examined
in vitro using axillary bud cultures of Decalepis hamiltonii.
In the case of a medium comprising of MS
salts with indole 3-acetic acid (IAA) (0.5 mg l–1), poor
rooting was observed and root emergence did not
occur until after 25 days. The resultant roots were
stunted. Addition of 40 μM AgNO3 improved root
initiation and elongation. The promotive effects of
AgNO3 on rooting may result from inhibition of ethylene
action. Upon addition of ethephon to the rooting
medium, excessive callusing was observed in
explants in all the treatments. Addition of 40 μM
AgNO3 to ethephon-containing medium resulted in
improvement in root initiation and elongation. Ethylene
production was monitored in all the treatments
with IAA/AgNO3/ethephon and it was observed that
the treatment with IAA (0.5 mg l–1) alone showed a
greater increase in ethylene production when compared
with AgNO3, ethephon and their combinations.