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Axillary shoots from three selected white ash (Fraxinus americana L.) clones were harvested from in vitro shoot cultures. Roots were initiated by pulsing excised shoots for eight days in the dark in MS medium supplemented with 2% sucrose, 0.7% agar, 5 µM NAA, and 1 µM IBA. Pulsed shoots were transferred to a root elongation medium consisting of 25% MS macrosalts, full-strength microsalts and organics, 1% sucrose, 0.7% agar and no auxins. When roots were visible (6–10 days after transfer to root elongation medium), microplants were transferred to vessels containing the same minimal medium and tall fescue (Festuca elatior var. arundinacea (Schreb.) Wimm.) leaf extracts, leaf leachates, or soil leachates from plant boxes with and without tall fescue sod. After four weeks in vitro, primary adventitious and secondary root growth was reduced by extracts obtained from 5 and 10 g ground leaves per 100 ml of medium. Leachates obtained from 5 g soaked leaves per 100 ml of medium stimulated primary root growth. Soil leachates from bare soil also stimulated primary root growth. Variation was observed among the clones for root growth when plantlets were grown in extracts or leachates from tall fescue.

Thidizuron (TDZ) is among the most active cytokinin-like substances for woody plant tissue culture. It facilitates efficient micropropagation of many recalcitrant woody species. Low concentrations (<1 µM) can induce greater axillary proliferation than many other cytokinins; however, TDZ may inhibit shoot elongation. In some cases it is necessary to transfer shoots to an elongation medium containing a lower level of TDZ and/or a less active cytokinin. At concentrations higher than 1 µM, TDZ can stimulate the formation of callus, adventitious shoots or somatic embryos. Subsequent rooting of microshoots may be unaffected or slightly inhibited by prior exposure to TDZ. The main undesirable side effect of TDZ is that cultures of some species occasionally form fasciated shoots. The high cytokinin activity and positive response of woody species to TDZ have established it as among the most active cytokinins forin vitro manipulation of many woody species.

Starting at 8 weeks and continuing until 23 weeks (nut drop) after anthesis,1 m2 explants from cotyledons of immature seeds were extracted from Juglans nigra fruits. Explants were placed on Woody Plant Medium with 1 g l-1 casein hydrolysate and 30 g l-1 sucrose. The explants remained in light for 4 weeks on primary media containing a 3×3 factorial of 0.05, 0.5, or 5.0 µM thidiazuron (TDZ) and 0.1, 1.0, or 10.0 µM 2,4-d. Explants were transferred to a secondary medium containing no plant growth regulators and incubated in darkness for 11 weeks. The greatest number of somatic embryos was produced 8, 10, and 12 weeks after anthesis from explants on media with 0.5 or 5.0 µM TDZ and 0.1 or 1.0 µM 2,4-d. Explants produced the greatest callus volume and dry weight 10, 12, and 14 weeks after anthesis. Throughout the study, callus generally increased with increasing concentrations of both TDZ and 2,4-d.

Embryonic axes and seedling shoot tips of Juglans nitra L., Black walnut, were cultured in vitro. Significant variation existed among progeny from individual trees for growth of radicles and epicotyls and production of callus and axillary shoots from embryonic axes. The concentration of 6-benzyladenine influenced the growth of the radicle and epicotyl and production of callus and axillary shoots of axes. Axes generally initiated growth quicker on solidified woody plant medium than on Driver and Kuniyuki's walnut medium, but axillary shoot proliferation and elongation were eventually better on liquid Driver and Kuniyuki's walnut medium than on woody plant medium which required an etiolation treatment for microshoot elongation. The concentration of BA also influenced both callus growth and axillary shoot proliferation from seedling shoot tips. Axillary shoots which formed in Driver and Kuniyuki's walnut medium rooted best in sterile vermiculite following a 15 s dip in 10 mM indole-3-butyric acid. Micropropagated plants are growing in the greenhouse.

Shoots which proliferated from shoot tip explants of ‘Colorado White Simm’ carnation and ‘Fantastic’ tomato on MS medium containing 5 mgl-1 benzyladenine were rooted and grown in vitro as microplants. Tomato microplants grown in medium with 5 gl-1 sucrose had less overall shoot and root growth than those with 10,20, or 30 gl-1 sucrose regardless of NAA level. Carnation shoot growth was reduced by 5 g l-1 sucrose but root growth was not affected except when no sucrose was supplied. Microplant height and rooting of carnation were maximal when grown in 20 gl-1 sucrose whereas tomato microplant growth was greatest with 30 gl-1 sucrose. Microplants of both species had reduced height and root growth when the MS nutrient salts were lowered to 25%, 50%, or 75% compared to full strength when sucrose was supplied at 5 gl-1.

Shoot tips of Euphorbia Lathyris L. are difficult to establish in vitro unless wounding is minimized and explants are oriented vertically. The cytokinin benzyladenine was not necessary for axillary shoot proliferation, but was needed for callus and adventitious shoot production. Etiolated microshoots rooted well on modified MS supplemental with 1 mg 1-1 1-naphthalene acetic acid. Acclimatization to greenhouse conditions was not difficult.