Abstract
This study was carried out to reveal optimum conditions for in vitro propagation of 3 Korean native azalea species, Rhododendron mucronulatum, R. yedonese var. poukhanense, and R. shlippenbachii, which are useful for landscape proposes. Seeds and meristems from three azalea species were cultured on 1/2MS, Hyponex, and Anderson media containing growth of regulators benzyladenine(BA) and 2-isopentenyadenosine(2ip). The results were as follows. 1. In the culture of R. schlippenbachii and R. mucronulatum seeds, in vitro seedlings germinated and grew well on he 1/2MS and Anderson media, while R. yedoense var. poukhanense on Hyponex media containing 6.0mg/$\ell$ 2ip. 2. When the meristems of R. mucronulatum were cultured on Andeson media containing 9.0mg/$\ell$ 2ip, the survival rate of meristems was 23.0% in 6 weeks after culture, and the survival rate of R. schlippenbachii was 46.0% o nthe same media containing 12.0mg/$\ell$ 2ip. The survial rate of R. yedoense var. poukhanense was 92.0% onHyponex media containing 0.5mg/$\ell$ BA and 9.0mg/$\ell$ 2ip. When the meristems of R. mucronulatum and R. yedoense var. poukhanense were cultured on Hyponex media containing 12.0mg/$\ell$ 2ip, they showed the most excellent growth. R. schlippenbachii grew well on Anderson media containing 9.0mg/$\ell$ 2ip. When in vitro shoots of R. yedoense var. poukhanense were subcultured to solid medium, they grew well in shoot growth on Hyponex media containing 6.0mg/$\ell$ 2ip.
