Abstract
Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is a very profitable crop in Israel, mainly due to selection of high-yielding superior clones. However, a major problem facing growers is infection of the plantations with Fusarium Oxysporum, which is presumably transferred from mother plants propagated by cuttings. Production of pathogen-free plants through tissue culture is one approach to solving the problem. However, acclimatization of the micropropagated plantlets is very difficult and survival rates very low. In the present research, we examined effects of ventilation at the shoot multiplication stage on growth and in vitro hardening of jojoba plantlets from 14 jojoba clones. Jojoba shoots multiplicated in ventilated boxes elongated much faster, developed more and bigger leaves, had higher biomass, and most important, produced more propagules than shoots grown in closed boxes with low ventilation. Water content of the ventilated propagules was lower, more crystalline wax was deposited on their leaf surfaces and the rate of water loss under ambient conditions was slower.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
