Effects of indol-3-acetic acid and kinetin on in vitro growth of Aeonium haworthii Webb & Berthel (L. 1841) plant

Although possibilities of in vitro clonal propagation of some succulent plant species which are used for decoration as ornamental plants are known, there has been yet no study reported about Aeonium haworthii species. In this study, the effect of hormones which were applied alone and in different dual combinations at various concentrations on root length, leaf length and leaf number of A. haworthii was determined. With this purpose, shoots and leaves from mature plants investigated were cultured on basal media of MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) containing IAA (Indole-3-Acetic acid), Kinetin (6-Furfurylaminopurine) and 3% sucrose, after surface-sterilization and then their growth was observed. According to the results from the periodical followings, the media containing low concentrations of IAA and Kinetin caused more distinctive and dominant growth for Aeonium haworthii plant. Additionally, among the plant parts cultured, mainly apexes and later fresh leaves showed the best young auxiliary shoots and growth rate. After the plants used were transferred to the soil which was composed of red soil: sand:peat mixture with 1:1:1 ratios of each it was observed that they showed 80 % adaptation and 100 % growth compared to their initial size in two weeks. Keywords: Aeonium haworthii, tissue culture, clonal propagation, IAA (Indole-3- Acetic acid), Kinetin (6-Furfurylaminopurine), Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium.