Propagation of Almond (Amygdalus communis L.) Plant by Tissue Culture

Abstract

The Study demonstrated the role of some growth regulators in the induction of growth and differentiation of almond (Amygdalus communis L.) callus. Benzyladenine (BA) was used as cyokinine at concentrations (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0) mg/L. While dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2.4-D), Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and Indolebutyric acid (IBA) for each were used as auxin at various concentrations (0.0, 0.1, 0.5) mg/L. The results indicated that the best medium sustaining maximum callus growth was the MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L BA and NAA as it increases the fresh weight as 2.555 g during 90 days of growth. The result showed that BA at 1.0 mg/L and IBA at 0.1 mg/L were the most effective in shoot proliferation and elongation from almond stem explants, since these shoots developed at higher concentrations (0.5 mg/L IBA and 2 mg/L BA) showed a small amount of black callus at the base of the shoots. Moreover, shoots development from callus when it was transferred to MS medium supplemented with 2mg/L of BA, after 30 days. Also addition of 4% of sucrose to MS medium stimulated the initiation of callus rather well. However, the addition of 5% of sucrose to MS medium enhanced the number of shoots formation from stem expants of almond, reaching 8 shoots. The result indicated also that the addition of 2 mg/L BA only to regeneration medium stimulated roots formation at the base of shoots, when these shoots were cultured on that medium. The plant developed on this medium can be readily transferred to the soil after hardening.