Shoot tips of Dianthus caryophyl/us L. cvs., Lelia, Maragia, Sorriso and
Aicardi were excised from the plants grown in the greenhouse and cultured on MS
medium containing SA at 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mgll. The medium was solidified with
8.0, 10.0, 12.0 and 14.0 gIl agar. After 8 weeks, the results showed that the treatment
with SA at 2.0 mgll and agar at 8.0 gIl produced the highest number of shoots as 8.3
and 10.1 shoots lexplant with Maragia and Aicardi cultivars. Increasing SA levels in
the culture medium increased vitrification percentage. On the other side, increasing
agar concentration decreased both the multiplication rate and the percentage of
vitrified shoots. The developed shoots were transferred to. a rooting medium (MS
medium supplemented with NAA at 0.0 and 1.0 mg/l).The medium was solidified with
agar at 7.0 or 8.0 gIl. The treatment with MS medium containing NAA at 1.0 mg/l
produced the largest number of roots with Maragia and Sorriso cultivars. The plantlets
were then transferred from the rooting medium and cultured on small plastic pots
containing peatmoss: vermiculite and perlite. (1: 1 :1. vv:v). The pots were kept under
mist system for 2 weeks. The plants grew normally and the survival percentage
reached 80% with all cultivars.                 Abbreviations:        SA- Senzyladenine; MS- Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium;
NAA- Naphathaleneacetic acid