IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF VIRGINIA PINE FROM COTYLEDONS

Adventitious shoots developed on cotyledons of Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana Mill.) excised from seeds germinated for 3, 6, or 9 days and cultured on media containing 0.5 to 10 mg/liter benzyladenine (BA). Shoot regeneration was greatest (46 shoots per embryo) on cotyledons from seeds germinated for 6 days and placed on medium containing 10 mg/liter BA. Shoots were excised and elongated on medium lacking BA. Following elongation, shoots were placed on media containing 0 to 40 mg/liter indolebutyric acid (IBA) for 14 days followed by transfer to the same medium lacking auxin. Without IBA treatment, percent rooting was 3% and increased to 50% for concentrations of 5 to 40 mg/liter. Rooted shoots averaged 2.0 roots per shoot without auxin treatment, 3.3 roots when treated with 5 mg/liter IBA and root number increased linearly with increased IBA concentration up to 40 mg/liter (4.5 roots). Plant lets were transferred to growing medium and acclimated successfully to greenhouse conditions.

IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF VIRGINIA PINE FROM COTYLEDONS

Adventitious shoots developed on cotyledons of Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana Mill.) excised from seeds germinated for 3, 6, or 9 days and cultured on media containing 0.5 to 10 mg/liter benzyladenine (BA). Shoot regeneration was greatest (46 shoots per embryo) on cotyledons from seeds germinated for 6 days and placed on medium containing 10 mg/liter BA. Shoots were excised and elongated on medium lacking BA. Following elongation, shoots were placed on media containing 0 to 40 mg/liter indolebutyric acid (IBA) for 14 days followed by transfer to the same medium lacking auxin. Without IBA treatment, percent rooting was 3% and increased to 50% for concentrations of 5 to 40 mg/liter. Rooted shoots averaged 2.0 roots per shoot without auxin treatment, 3.3 roots when treated with 5 mg/liter IBA and root number increased linearly with increased IBA concentration up to 40 mg/liter (4.5 roots). Plant lets were transferred to growing medium and acclimated successfully to greenhouse conditions.

Profits from Growing Virginia Pine Christmas Trees in Louisiana

Costs and returns involved in growing Virgina pine (Pinus virginiana Mill.) Christmas trees are presented as a guide to estimating profit from this enterprise. With the assumptions made, based on research and grower experience in southern Louisiana, the net profit was computed to be $481/ac/yr and the internal rate of return to be 38% for a four-year rotation. South. J. Appl. For. 12(2):122-124.