In vitro flowering and fruiting in Portulaca pilosa L.

Abstract In vitro flowering and fruiting of Portulaca pilosa L. were achieved for the first time. The ability of several factors to induce in vitro flowering, including plant growth regulators and carbon sources, were investigated. Initial in vitro flowering (12.1%) from stems, most likely from floral buds that had differentiated before stem sections were inoculated on MS medium supplemented with 30 g/L sucrose, 1.0 µM BA and 0.1 µM NAA, occurred within less than one month. Axillary shoots were subcultured multiple times on this medium. Secondary in vitro flowering (12.2%) and fruit setting from axillary shoots was possible on MS medium supplemented with 120 g/L sucrose without any plant growth regulators. Continuous culture on this medium for 12 days after flowering yielded fruits and produced a mean 58 normal seeds per fruit. Seeds germinated and developed seedlings in vitro without any additional treatment.