Micropropagation of switchgrass by node culture.

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is naturally outcrossing; therefore, maintenance of genotype is difficult through sexual propagation. The objective of this study was to develop a micropropagation procedure for the multiplication of desired or selected genotypes. Nodal segments were surface sterilized, split longitudinally, and placed with the cut surface on solid MS medium containing 30 g L -1 maltose and different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) as the only growth regulator. Best shoot proliferation was obtained with 12.5 μM BAP and culture at 29°C. Shoots were easily rooted on MS medium without BAP. Under optimum conditions, it is possible to produce approximately 500 plantlets from one parent plant in 12 wk.