Corn Starch Gel and Plant Tissue Culture I. Effects of Corn Starch Gel Medium on Differentiation and Growth of Malus Zumi and M26

Studies showed that corn starch (CS) as medium gel for tissue culture of Malus zumi and M26 not only raised rooting rate of shoot segments to 87-98%,which was 34% higher than Agar medium,but also had synchronizing effects on rooting induction.When in proliferating culture CS medium promoted differentiation of shoots,especially increased chlorophyll content and width of the seaves.Nevertheless the height of M. Zumi plantlet was relatively inhabited,while the stem width was increased.Such effects of CS gel medium were belived to be mainly dependent on bioactive factors possibly in CS.The authors suggested that CS gel medium could replace Agar to reduce medium cost and be employed in micropropagation of Malus species.