2.3. Establishment of root cultures
I. balsamina root cultures were initiated from young leaf explants
(1 1 cm) on solid B5 medium (25 ml) supplemented with
0.1 mg/l NAA, 1.0 mg/l Kn, 2.0 mg/l BA, 20 g/l sucrose and 8 g/l
agar. The root cultures (30 days old) were transferred into 250 ml
Erlenmeyer flasks containing 50 ml of liquid B5 medium supplemented
with the same hormonal composition. The cultures were
incubated on a rotary shaker (80 rpm), at 25 ± 2 C with a 16 h light
(light intensity 1000 lx) photoperiod. Maintenance of the cultures
was carried out by periodic subculture (3 week intervals).