In vitroculture of the olive tree (Olea europaeaL.): present aspects and prospects

Abstract

SummaryShort- and long-term objectives for research on tissue culture of the olive tree (Olea europaea L.) are described by the author in this paper. Several procedures to establish in vitro cultures of the olive were used with interesting results in plant regeneration, from different explant sources and cultivars. In vitro culture methods, as vegetative propagation from olive naked embryos, «meristem» cultures (axillary bud stimulation and shoot proliferation), shoot rooting, callus culture, plant regeneration, isolation, culture and division of olive protoplasts are described in a first section. Future prospects for genetic improvement of this tree, a crop species of high economic relevance in the Mediterranean countries, are discussed in the second section of this paper.