The effect of different nitrogen sources on the induction and rooting of axillary shoots in Chrysanthemum morifolium was tested. The total nitrogen concentration was maintained constant (60 mM) in all treatments, only the nitrogen source varying. Treatment E1 was a complete MS (Murashige & Skoog 1962) medium. The remaining treatments were: E2 = ammonium; E3 = nitrate; E4 = nitrate+urea (1.65 mM); E5 = nitrate+urea (3.33 mM); E6 = urea; E7 = urea+ glutamine, and E8 = glutamine. No phytohormones were added to the media. In treatment E1, both shoot and root development were promoted. The use of nitrate as the only source of nitrogen (treatment E3) was sufficient to maintain vigorous growth and no significant difference was found in any of the parameters measured when compared with the basic MS medium. The presence of urea promoted root development in Chrysanthemum, especially when used in addition to nitrate (treatments E4 and E5), hereby producing a dense root system. Both glutamine (treatment E7) and ammonium (treatment E2) were inefficient when used as the sole nitrogen source. Both of these sources resulted in a less vigorous plant growth, this being reflected in lower values for all of the parameters measured.
Chrysanthemum; nitrogen sources; multiplication in vitro
