In vitro propagation of GF677 hybrid rootstock (Prunus persica × Prunus amygdalus) from mature cotyledons

Abstract

ABSTRACTAdventitious shoot regeneration from mature cotyledons of GF677 rootstock (Prunus persica × Prunus amygdalus) was achieved in vitro. Thidiazuron (N-phenyl-N-1,2,3-thidiazol-5-yl-urea; TDZ) at 32 µM gave the highest percentage of cotyledons forming adventitious shoots (68.8%) and the highest number of shoots per cotyledon (4.8) on Quoirin and Lepoivre (QL) medium. On QL medium containing 32 µM TDZ, exposure of the proximal segments of cotyledons to darkness at the start of culture increased the percentage of cotyledons forming adventitious shoots (62.5%) when compared with those kept under light conditions (15%). A combination of 0.72 µM gibberellic acid and dark treatment resulted in at least 2.7-fold more elongated shoots than non-treated shoots. The highest rooting percentage (100%) occurred on 0.5× Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with Gamborg (B5) vitamins and 2 mg l−1 indole-3-butyric acid. Rooted plantlets were acclimatised under greenhouse conditions with a 70% survival rate.