Results and Discussion
Etiolated shoots grew from the rooted
stumps after 10 to 14 days of dark incubation
(Fig. 1A). Because more than one etiolated
shoot per stump developed, we concluded that
these were of adventitious origin. By the 30th
to 35th day, shoot length had reached 6 to 10
cm (mean, 7.74 ± 1.13 cm) with six to nine
nodes per shoot (mean, 7.37 ± 0.88). There
was a strong correlation (r = 0.98) between the
length of the initial plantlet before decapitation
and the length of the etiolated shoots.
Initial explants of 4 to 9 cm provided etiolated
shoots 6.5 to 10 cm in length with seven nodes
for subsequent cultures. Etiolated shoot development
ceased after 5 to 6 weeks.