In vitro shoot proliferation of Myrtus communis L. from field-grown plants

Abstract

In vitro vegetative propagation of native Mediterranean myrtle ( Myrtus communis L.) has been obtained from mature field-grown plants. Single node explants were cultivated on a standard basal medium supplemented with 3% sucrose, 10 mg l −1 l-ascorbic acid and 0.7% Difco bacto agar. For the proliferation stage various 6-benzylaminopurine treatments (0–2.0 mg l −1) and explant orientations were tested. A high proliferation rate was obtained from explants placed horizontally on a medium containing 2.0 mg l −1 and 0.05 mg l −1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and subcultured at 6-week intervals. Shoot proliferation medium composition and NAA concentration strongly influenced root induction on propagules.