EXPERIMENTS WITH ROOT CUTTINGS OF BRUSSELS SPROUT

A technique for the propagation of Brussels sprout by means of root cuttings is described. Adventitious shoots arise exogenously on callus tissue which develops around the base of side roots. Cuttings sometimes rot without forming adventitious shoots, and cuttings which remain sound do not all produce shoots. Rotting may largely be prevented by planting cuttings with the proximal end exposed above the surface of the medium, and by allowing the root portions to dry before planting. Surface sterilization with mercuric chloride controls rotting but reduces bud formation. Individual plants differ in their capacity to form buds on root cuttings, and this difference is carried by the clones derived from them. Portions of root form more buds if cut into several pieces than if planted intact.