Effect of Gibberellic Acid (GA3) and Micropropagation on Axillary Shoot Induction in Monostem Genotype (To-2) of Tomato (L. Esculentum Mill)

The torosa- 2 tomato (to-2) is characterized by inhibition of axillary shoot formation. The effect of gibberellic acid (GA3) appears essential for the induction of lateral shoots, when applied at an early development stage of torosa plants. The effect of micropropagation per se on the in vitro formation of axillary shoots indicates that probably there is some inhibition in hormone transport. The highest efficiency in axillary shoot formation was observed when germination and micropropagation occurred on media supplemented with GA3. The lateral branches developed in the basal portion of the main stem of torosa -2 plants from apex and node microcuttings grown in open field prove that root system plays an essential role in the hormone unbalance which is assumed to be responsible for the torosa monostem phenotype.