Milošević et al. (2011) examined a possibility for obtaining
virus-free plants from I. hawkerii shoots infected
with TSWV using meristem culture. For the investigation,
DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR positive plants
were selected. Meristem explants (0.3-1.5 mm) from virus-
infected shoots were cultured on MS media supplemented
with different concentrations of the cytokinins,
CPPU or TDZ (0.01-1.0 μM), respectively.
Using this protocol, a large number of in vitro shoots
were successfully produced from a single explant. Cytokinins
showed a stimulatory effect on the length,
fresh and dry weights, as well as on the content of plant
pigments. By DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR, 80% of the
in vitro plantlets were shown to be virus-free, recommending
the presented protocol for practical implementation
in production of virus-free Impatiens planting
material.
Figure 1. Symptoms on I. walleriana plants infected with
TSWV – (a) necrotic spots, (b) necrotic flecks,
line pattern and deformation of leaf, (c) necrosis
of petals and sepals, (d) necrosis of steam