Study of conventional and photoautotrophic methods of micropropagation on Eucalyptus maculata

E. maculata is a fast growing species، adapted to climate conditions of Iran، which is important in agro-forestry، industrial and medical aspects. Proliferation of E. maculata was carried out using photoautotrophic and conventional micropropagation methods as well as comparing efficiency of the two methods. Terminal buds of young plants were used as explants. Explants were placed on MS medium with ½ nitrate and various growth regulators with different concentrations for conventional micropropagation and in Magenta (G7) containers with different number of filters for gas exchange with external and internal environments، containing 70 ml of half-strength، sugar and agar free MS medium، supplemented with vermiculite in photoautotrophic method. After one month، MS medium with ½ nitrate containing IBA (0. 01 mgl-1)، BAP (0. 3 mgl-1)، 2ip (0. 5 mgl-1) for shoot production (with average number of 2. 52)، IBA (0. 01 mgl-1)، BAP (0. 1 mgl-1)، Kinetin (0. 2 mgl-1) for shoot height growth (with average of 2. 07 cm) and MS medium with ½ nitrate containing IBA (1 mgl-1) for root production (with average number of 1. 62) were the best media. In photoautotrophic method، results of study on growth indexes showed that there were not any significant differences between the studied treatments but treatment with 4 filters had better growth conditions. According to observation، photoautotrophic method had better growth characteristics than the conventional micropropagation of E. maculata. The micropropagated plantlets were transferred to greenhouse and field successfully.