Developing micropropagation protocol for euonymus species and evaluating oryzalin treatments for polyploid development

Abstract

Euonymus has invasive traits such as high seed production and good seed viability. Development of sterile, polyploid cultivars could prevent euonymus from invading native ecosystems. Oryzalin is a commonly used mutagen for chromosome doubling. The aims of this research were to develop a micropropagation protocol and to establish a protocol for inducing polyploids (tetraploids) for two euonymus species, E. bungeanus and E. turkestanicus. Micropropagation was successful. MS with 1 µM BA performed better for E. turkestanicus. MS with 1 or 2 µM BA outperformed the other treatments for propagation number for both species. IBA addition was successful, but root initiation was not consistent with the treatments. Polyploid induction was successful. The presence of tetraploids in E. turkestanicus using 50 µM and 100 µM of oryzalin was confirmed using flow cytometry. No tetraploids were detected with E. bungeanus suggesting that the oryzalin concentrations were not effective and may require increased concentrations.