Abstract: | A micropropagation protocol for shoot culture of sweet viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum) is described. Nodal explants, initially established on MS medium, were transferred to WPM supplemented with combinations of BA and GA3. Maximum shoot multiplication was observed on explants cultured on medium supplemented with BA concentration higher than 1.1 μM, and 14 μM GA3. Although Stage II medium supplemented with BA concentration higher than 1.1 μM resulted in increased shoot multiplication, it also caused a decrease in shoot length. A negative carry over effect of GA3 on rooting was observed in subsequent Stage III cultures. The presence of GA3 in Stage II medium promoted shoot elongation, but it also caused a decrease in microcutting rooting. For this reason, 0.5 μM BA and 14 μM GA3 were selected for optimum Stage II shoot multiplication. Although 100% microcuttings formed roots when cultured on medium containing 6.0 μM NAA, significant callus formation was observed and ex vitro survival rate was low (49%). Rooting was achieved after 3 weeks with 82% of microcuttings on medium supplemented with 3 μM IBA. The survival rate of plantlets under ex vitro conditions was 100% after 3 weeks. Plants looked healthy with no visually detectable phenotypic variation based on observation of about 30 plants. |