ABSTRACT
Roses were among the first ornamental plants to be domesticated. Roses are propagated for three distinct production sectors: greenhouse cut flower production, pot-grown flowering houseplant sales, and the home gardening market. In vitro techniques have been used to introduce new genotypes by mutation breeding. One interesting response of in vitro cultured miniature roses is the production of flowers. This chapter illustrates the sequential steps required for the micropropagation of miniature roses by shoot culture. It outlines the maintenance of stock plants, media preparation, procedures, and anticipated results. Regardless of the miniature rose cultivar chosen, purchase plants exhibiting new shoot growth if they are to be used immediately. Nodal explants taken from newly formed shoots can be more readily surface disinfested and responsive. Many miniature rose cultivars display vigorous growth when established in vitro; the actual response is highly cultivar dependent. Axillary shoots should develop from the cultured primary nodal explants by two weeks' culture.
