DEVELOPMENT OF EXCISED FLORAL BUDS OF AQUILEGIA: THE COCONUT-MILK PROBLEM

In an attempt to define a medium and to investigate the effects of glycine, floral buds of Aquilegia were grown in culture on coconut milk and defined media containing either White's minerals or a new mineral formula, with and without glycine. Development obtained on the best defined medium was 66 to 76% of that achieved on the equivalent coconut-milk medium. The inability of buds to achieve development equal to that on the coconut-milk medium may be partially explained by the existence of a barrier to carpel formation and development. The effect of glycine on floral buds grown on a defined medium was dependent not only upon the minerals used but also on the stage of development of the bud. With White's minerals, glycine inhibited the development of buds in early and intermediate stages but was slightly promotive with buds in later stages. With the new minerals, glycine was slightly promotive with early and intermediate stages of development but was inhibitory with later stages. Further work is necessary before development on a defined medium will equal or exceed development on the coconut-milk medium.