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Dasheen Mosaic Virus and Other Phytopathogens Eliminated from Caladium, Taro, and Cocoyam by Culture of Shoot Tips. R. D. Hartman, Graduate Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32601; Phytopathology 64:237-240. Accepted for publication 19 September 1973. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-64-237.

Excised shoot-tips of the aroids caladium, taro, and cocoyam, were successfully cultured aseptically and free of dasheen mosaic virus on the revised medium of Murashige and Skoog (14). Callus of all three species proliferated into numerous plantlets on this medium. Plantlets survived transplanting from culture to soil. Both caladium cultivars (‘Candidum’ and ‘Frieda Hemple’) assumed characteristic foliar variegation within 3 mo after transplanting. Candidum plantlets attained maturity and flowered 6-7 mo after transplanting. The feasibility of tissue culture as a practical control measure for diseases of these plants is discussed. Attempts to culture dieffenbachia, chinese evergreen, philodendron, and two Cryptocoryne spp. were not successful.