In agar mediums the best multiplication rate after eight weeks was achieved on medium M2 and M3 with an average number of new plants 19.5 and 18.1 respectively (Fig. 1B, Fig. 1C). The minimal number of new plants in M2 was seven and the maximal number amounted to 34 new plants. In M3, the minimal number of new plants was 5 and the maximal number of new plants was 31. M1 and M4 resulted in a much lower multiplication. M1 medium generated 12.7 new plants with a minimal number of four new plants and a maximal number of 22 new plants (Fig. 1A). M4 medium generated 12.9 new plants where the minimal number of new plants was three and the maximal number of new plants was 24 (Fig. 1D). The plants obtained in medium M1, M2 and M3 were slender in shape and green in colour (Fig. 1F). The plants grown on M4 were very hard, slightly vitrified, extended at the base, and the leaves were slightly red at the end (Fig. 1G). The highest number of plants was achieved in a bioreactor in M5 and this method gave significantly different results from the others. The mean number of new plants after four weeks was 36.9 per explants. The minimal number of new plants was 15 and the maximal number of new plants was 55. Means for all combinations, medians and minimums and maximums are presented in Fig. 2.
The morphology of new plants was the same as in M1-M3. TIS and plants are presented in Fig. 1E and Fig. 1H. Taking into account the results of statistical analyses it can be concluded that the sample distributions did not match the characteristics of a normal distribution. Thus, according to Kruskal-Wallis, the methods differed significantly from each other (p < 0.05). Multiple sample comparisons indicated that the M1 and M4 mediums were not significantly different, as were the M2 and M3 mediums.
The rooting rate was established after three weeks. Medium R3 turned out to be the most efficient, with 84% plants rooted. The minimal number of rooted plants was five out of ten and the maximal number of rooted plants was ten. The roots were long, unbranched and healthy (Fig. 3C). Only 36% of plants were rooted on R2 and only 12% on R1. The minimal number of rooted plants on R2 and R1 was two and zero, and the maximal number of rooted plants was six and three respectively. The roots developed on R2 were shorter than on R3 and were slightly branched (Fig. 3B). The plants on R1 had very short, unbranched roots (Fig. 3A). The media containing activated charcoal showed strong inhibition in rhizogenesis. Medium RAC1, RAC2 and RAC3 showed no roots (Tab 1). The rooted plants are presented in Fig. 3D.
In terms of rooting results the sample distributions also did not match the characteristics of a normal distribution. Thus, according to Kruskal-Wallis, the methods differed significantly from each other (p < 0.05). Multiple sample comparisons indicated that all of the methods were significantly different (Tab 1).
The next stage of the experiment included transferring plants to multi-pots and acclimatising to greenhouse conditions. At this stage of the experiment, 100% of the plants survived and started rapid growth (Fig. 3D).