Argylia radiata micropropagation, a biotechnological tool to domesticate a new ornamental crop

Argylia radiata (L.) D. Don (family Bignoniaceae) is a perennial plant, native to the north of Chile. It is considered as a potential candidate as an ornamental crop. Micropropagation was evaluated as part of the domestication process. A multiplication trial was performed using MS medium supplemented with three cytokinins, 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin, and zeatin, at four different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mg L^‑1) and hormone-free medium as a control. After 5 weeks, the number of sprouts, multiplication rate, plant height, and plant damage were measured. Fresh weight, dry weight, and water content of the plants were determined as well. Medium containing 1.0 mg L^‑1 BAP produced the greatest shoot emission (8.45 sprouts per plant). The highest multiplication rate (7.22 explants per plant) was observed with 2.0 mg L^‑1 BAP and the lowest was observed in kinetin media. Zeatin-supplemented media showed an increase in the number of damaged plants, but no damage was observed in the plants cultured in hormone-free medium. Plants in control medium and kinetin-supplemented media showed the lowest fresh and dry weights, while those in medium containing 2.0 mg L^‑1 BAP had the highest. The plantlets in hormone-free medium had the lowest water content. Finally, the best multiplication rate was obtained in media supplemented with BAP and zeatin.