Investigation about the growth of Rhododendron leteum Sweet and Rhododendron ponticum L. using tissue culture and seeding methods and their use in landscape architecture

SUMMARY Investigations About the Growth of Rhododendron luteum Sweet and Rhododendron ponticum L. Using Tissue Culture and Seeding Methods, and Their Use in Landscape Architecture Rhododendrons are among the plants that are very important in Landscape Architecture with many of their aspects including aesthetic usages like beauty of their flowers grown in different seasons with varying colors, autumn coloring in some taxa and beauty of their leaves, as well as their many functional usages. Ariiongst the Rhododendrons wide-spread in northern hemisphere, Rhododendron ponticum L. and Rhododendron luteum Sweet, being öne of natural species of North East Black Sea Region, were studied in order to obtain high yield of the plants in a short time and to find out appropriate soil, lights temperature and humidity conditions for adaptation of plants grown by seeding method. The MS medium revised by Anderson (19^75) specifically for Rhçdodendrons was used for production with tissue culture method, and root formation fqr Rhododendron ponticum and leave formation for Rhododendron luteum were achieved in a combination of 2iP and IAA (15 mg/L -*? 4 mg/L) using organ culture method in the same medium. First, the sprout formation conditions were studied in production with seeds and adaptation investigations, the seedlings were then transferred to peat medium in the first replicate and after four months, they were transferred to 8 different media in the second replicatey and their growth-survival status was investigated. Soil analyses were performed and the interrelationships of the results obtained were evaluated both statistically and graphically. Two different study fields were selected in the search of appropriate temperature, light and humidity conditions. The growth-survival status, medium temperature, light and humidity levels were measured for both fields, and the interrelations of the results were evaluated both statistically and graphically. Our results showed that Rhododendrons present better adaptations in the soils at acidic pH and rich in organic matter, and in the fields half-shaded and humid. Keywords: Rhododendron, Rhododendron ponticum L., Rhododendron luteum Sweet, Growth with Seed, Adaptation, Tissue Culture VII