FACTORS AFFECTING PROPAGATION OF STRAWBERRY (Fragaria spp.) THROUGH TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES.

Abstract

An efficient method for shoot regeneration, root formation from runner tips and acclimatization of strawberry plantlets was developed. Runner tips of 1-2 cm long were used as source of explnts. After surface sterilization apical meristems of 3-5mm long were isolated and used as explnts. At multiplication stage, results indicated that the highest vegetative parameters (shoot number, shoot length and leaf number) were observed when MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l BA followed by the medium contained 1 mg/l BA and 0.1 mg/l IBA. However control treatment showed a significant similar result in shoot length only. Results of this study indicated that, BA was more effective in enhancement the growth of strawberry in vitro compared to Kin and TDZ. At rooting stage, it was clear that MS medium at full strength containing 30 g/l sucrose significantly surpassed all other combinations of MS strengths and sucrose concentrations in increasing root number and length per plantlet and fresh weight/plantlet. The same treatment enhanced the shoot length but without significant difference compared to some other combinations. The treatment contained 3 g/l agar with 6 g/l perlite significantly enhanced root formation (number and length) as well as shoot length, fresh weight/plantlet, and leaf number/plantlets. Finally, plantlets were successfully acclimatized and the soil mixture contained peatmoss : perlite (2 : !, V/V) observed high percentage of survival of plants ( 80%) with enhancing both root number and length/plantlet, plantlet height and leaf number/plantlet.