Wei Li

For its rapid growth, high yield, and broad adaptability, Arundo donax is widely used in various applications, yielding considerable economic and ecological benefits. However, widespread cultivation is challenging because A. donax can only be propagated asexually. In this study, a tissue culture method was developed using the clustered bud proliferation pathway. The explant type, disinfection method, induction medium, proliferation medium, and rooting medium were optimized to efficiently harvest high-quality A. donax seedlings. Using axillary buds with whole cane fragments as the most suitable explants, they were first sterilized with 75% alcohol for 30 s and then disinfected with 0.1% mercuric chloride for 5 min. 97.8% of explants could successfully form clustered buds on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and 1.0 mg/L 3-indolebutyric acid (IBA). Each individual bud achieved efficient propagation with a proliferation coefficient as high as 33.3 on MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/L 6-BA and 1.0 mg/L IBA. In addition, all buds were capable of rooting on 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The resultant rooted seedlings survived and developed into plantlets, averaging 44.84 cm in height and 2.54 mm in thickness, following a 30-day acclimation period. This protocol provides a robust foundation for the large-scale, high-quality propagation of A. donax, supporting its broader application in ecological restoration and bioresource industries.

Arundo donax (family: Poaceae) is a perennial rhizomatous plant with considerable economic and ecological benefits. The plant is characterized by its fast growth, high yield, wide adaptability, and strong disease resistance. However, widespread cultivation is difficult because A. donax can only be asexually propagated. This study tested the efficacy of an aqua-based culture method with short duration and high rooting rate. The aqua-based culture protocol involved treating cane fragments with the commercial broad-spectrum rooting powder ABT-1 (No. 1 of the ABT series) at 100 mg/L for 24 h, followed by culturing in tap water for 19 days. We found that plant materials sampled from September to February of the following year were more suitable for aqua-based culturing than materials sampled from other months. Nodes on different parts of the cane did not vary significantly in the ability to form seedlings. The rooting percentage reached >95% after only 20 days, while the sprouting percentage was >93%. The seedlings obtained were strong, with high survival rates during cultivation and acclimation. No strict requirements for the growing media were necessary to achieve these results. In conclusion, this study provides an empirical foundation for a technique that could facilitate the factory production of high-quality A. donax seedlings.