Studies On Selection And Propagation Of Superior Individuals Of Osteospermum Spp.

Osteospermum is a splendid ornamental plant with vigorous growth and mass flowers, either taken as bed-plants or pot-plants. In addition, people enjoy its color, appearance and artistic conception. So it is worthy worldly planting this ornamental plant with great market potentiality. However it has been applied rarely in the garden of our country until now and the seeds were bought abroad. Thus it is necessary to cultivate new cultivars and improve this plant in our own country.This research focus on the individual selection and propagation techniques of Osteospermum. The main results were as follows:(1) Individual selectionAccording to biological characteristics and ornamental traits, 7 appraisal indexes (flower color, flower type, the number of flowers, blooming time of flower, flower diameter, plant type and plant height) were selected out and multifactorial appraisal system of the Osteospermum based on Analytic Hierarchy Process was developed. Accroding to the multifactorial appraisal system, 12 superior individuals were selected out from 140 individuals. '109', '093', '125', '068', '129' and '011' are suitable for bed-plants while '089', '138', '102', '118', '067' and '045' are suitable for pot-plants.(2) Induction of shoot cluster in vitroThe shoot clusters of 12 superior individuals were induced on the medium (MS+6-BA0.2 mg/L) from stem explants.(3) Leaf regeneration system was establishedThe regeneration system of Osteospermum was established. The suitable medium for the callus induction from leaf explants is MS+6-BA1.0 mg/L+NAA 0.5 mg/L. Then the callus was transferred on the medium(MS+6-BA1.0mg/L+NAA0.1mg/L) or (MS+6-BA1.0mg/L+NAA0.5mg/L), which got the highest regeneration rate of shoots. The plant has the fine rooting capacity on 1/2MS+NAA0.5 mg/L.(4) Cutting propatationThere is significantly effect on rooting percentage under lower NAA(under 150 mg/L) concentration, but higher concentration suppress the growth of roots. Rooting percentage is remarkably enhanced under the NAA concentration treatment (150 mg/L).