During the research phase, a system was developed to clonally micropropagate silver maple. Explant performance was best on DKW medium with 10 nM thidiazuron, and explants commonly developed 1 7 shoots after three months and over 60 shoots that could be rooted after four months in vitro. Plants were rooted (>90%) and acclimatized under intermittent mist and transplanted to an outdoor nursery bed. However, results were different during the production phase when 90 clones were propagated. Shoot proliferation rates were lower, differences in clonal response and worker efficiency were apparent, mass rooting under mist was inconsistent and acclimatization problems arose. The mean rooting was 46% under mist because of uneven coverage. Only 56% of rooted plantlets acclimatized which resulted in an overall efficiency of 26%. Partial solutions included root initiation in vitro, and use of fog for acclimatization.
A NOTE ON THE ANALYSIS AND COMPOSITION OF THE SEED OF THE SILVER MAPLE (ACER SACCHARINUM)