IN VITRO ROOTING OF STRAWBERRY TREE (ARBUTUS UNEDO L.) IN MEDIUM SOLIDIFIED BY PEAT - PERLITE MIXTURE IN COMBINATION WITH AGAR

Abstract

Microcuttings of strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) were produced in WPM supplemented with MS vitamins, sucrose 20 g l -1 , agar 5 g l -1 and 22 μM BA. Experimentation related to in vitro rooting was carried out in glass jars containing 70 ml of WPM supplemented with either IBA (0, 2.5, 5, 10 μM) or IAA (0, 10, 20 μM). Highest percentages of rooting were achieved in 10 μM IBA (92%) and 10 μM IAA (82%), although the respective survival rates during acclimatization were only 28 and 55%. Equal volume (70 ml) of peat - perlite (1:4, v/v) mixture was added to the above medium during in vitro rooting. This novel medium resulted in higher survival rates and well-branched roots, in all auxin concentrations, reaching up to 90% of acclimatization rate in the case of 10 μM IAA. Ex vitro rooting was performed in peat - perlite (1:1, v/v) mixture. Microcuttings were dipped in dilutions of either 0.5 g l -1 IBA for 24h or 2 g l -1 IBA for 5 sec. The respective average percentages of rooted plantlets were 62% and 59%, 50 days later.