Response of jojoba shoots to ventilation in vitro

Jojoba plants grown in vitro are characterized by anatomical, morphological, and physiological disorders that severely hamper their acclimatization ex vitro. The objective of this research was to study the response to ventilation of jojoba shoots and examine whether ventilation could negate some of the above-mentioned abnormalities. Jojoba propagules were grown in vessels with lids fitted with membranes of different sizes allowing different ventilation rates. Although ventilation caused some tip necrosis, the original apex was soon replaced by an axillary bud. Ventilation was associated with reduction of shoot length and leaf number, and an increase in propagule surface area, in fresh and dry weights, and in percentage of dry matter. Ventilated jojoba propagules were less hyperhydric, i.e., they exhibited a lower water content, greater wax deposition on leaf surface, greater lignification, and higher resistance to water loss.