Micropropagation of myrtle

Abstract

Rapid clonal propagation of a local cultivar of myrtle ( Myrtus communis L.) was achieved in vitro using tips excised from vegetative shoots of outdoor-grown plants. Optimum shoot proliferation was obtained on a medium containing half-strength Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) salts plus (in mg l −1): nicotinic acid, 0.5; pyridoxine HCl, 0.5; thiamin HCl, 0.1; glycine, 2.0; inositol, 100; sucrose, 30 000; BA, 1.5; NAA, 0.1. Transfer of excised shoots to half-strength MS salts plus vitamins, and supplemented with 0.5 mg l −1 BA and either 0.4 or 0.6 mg l −1 NAA, resulted in good root development. Plants were successfully transferred to soil.