In vitro multiplication of Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl. by homogenization of tissue cultures

A homogenization technique was developed for the multiplication of Saintpaulia ionantha. Petals from unopened flower buds were used as initial explants, which were homogenized with a blender in distilled water after the formation of adventitious shoots. The homogenate was plated on solidified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium where it formed clumps with multiple shoots. The effect of benzylaminopurine and α-naphthalene acetic acid, in the initial and plating media, on shoot production was studied. Five commercial cultivars tested were easily multiplied, transferred to soil and grown to flowering plants. The frequencies of ‘off-type’ plants observed were between 0 and 4%.