Acclimatization of micropropagated plants of Hevea

Abstract

In vitro produced Hevea shoots were successfully acclimatized to outdoor conditions by controlling the ambient conditions, mainly the humidity. Shooots, longer than 5 cm and with some leaves attached performed better. Shoots without roots produced shoots soon after their transfer to soil and the root development and the acclimation succes was better than in the rooted shoots. Use of a concentrated auxin solution, to soak the bases of the shoots or to incoroperate into soil improved root induction. The growth of the aerial part and the root system of the micropropagated plants were comparable to those of embryo cultured plants, up to one year of growth, but the field performance is yet to be monitored.