Method for producing clone seedlings

Abstract

A shoot of a plant is cultivated under the presence of glutathione, so that the shoot is rooted. It is possible to cultivate the shoot under the presence of glutathione by use of a rooting medium including glutathione or by contacting a solution including glutathione with the shoot. Oxidized glutathione is preferably used as glutathione. By promoting rooting of the shoot of the plant, a rooting rate of the shoot of the plant is improved. This improves productivity of a clone seedling.

1 . A method for producing a clone seedling of a plant, comprising
 cultivating a group of a shoot of the plant under the presence of oxidized glutathione to promote rooting of the shoot of the plant; and   collecting a rooted shoot from the group whose rooting rate is improved more than that of a group cultivated under the absence of oxidized glutathione.   
     
     
         2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the step of cultivating is carried out by use of a medium containing glutathione. 
     
     
         3 . The method as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein a glutathione concentration in the medium is within the range from 1 mg/L to 5000 mg/L. 
     
     
         4 . The method as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the medium does not contain a carbon source other than glutathione. 
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the step of cultivating is carried out by contacting a solution containing glutathione with a the shoot of the plant. 
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein a glutathione concentration in the solution is within the range from 1 mg/L to 5000 mg/L. 
     
     
         7 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plant is a plant which is a difficult-to-root species. 
     
     
         8 . The method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the plant is a  eucalyptus  plant. 
     
     
         9 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the step of cultivating is carried out under irradiation of light having a wavelength component of 650 nm to 670 nm to a wavelength component of 450 nm to 470 nm at a ratio of 9:1 to 7:3. 
     
     
         10 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the step of cultivating is carried out under carbon dioxide gas supply. 
     
     
         11 . The method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein a supplying amount of the carbon dioxide gas is within the range from 300 ppm to 2000 ppm. 
     
     
         12 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the step of cultivating is carried out under a humidity of 80% or more. 
     
     
         13 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the shoot used has a base wounded. 
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the shoot is any one of (i) a cutting, (ii) a multiple shoot which is obtained by culturing an organ under a sterile condition, wherein the organ is collected from a mother plant, and (iii) a foliage which is obtained by culturing the organ under a sterile condition. 
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the oxidized glutathione concentration is within the range from 1 mg/L to 100 mg/L.