Plants were grown in 15 l plastic pots filled with
a substrate of compost and zeolite in the ratio
3:1 (v/v) and sprayed regularly (once a week)
with a Benlate® solution (1 g l-1). Tips and nodal
segments (1cm length aprox.) were dissected,
rinsed in tap water and washed with 1% (v/v)
commercial detergent. Then surface was
sterilized in a 2% (w/v) sodium hypochlorite
solution for 15 minutes and rinsed twice in sterile
distilled water.