Screening Pyrus Germplasm for in Vitro Rooting Response

Abstract

Micropropagated shoots of 49 Pyrus species and cultivars and one selection of Pyronia veitchii (Trabut) Guillaumin were evaluated to test their responses to several in vitro rooting techniques. Auxin treatment was required for rooting in most cases. Eighteen of 50 accessions rooted ≥50% with a 15-second, 10-mm IBA dip followed by growth on medium with no growth regulators (NGR). Twelve accessions rooted on a medium with 10 μm IBA applied for 1 week followed by NGR medium for 3 weeks; NGR medium alone was effective for only two accessions. Twenty-eight accessions rooted poorly with IBA treatments; an additional treatment of a 15-second dip in 10 mm NAA followed by NGR medium produced ≥50% rooting for eight genotypes. Root production increased for 10 of 19 especially recalcitrant genotypes by 10 μm IAA treatments in darkness or at 30C and NAA dip treatments. Of rooted shoots, 73% survived acclimation in the greenhouse. Selections of Pyrus betulifolia Bunge, P. calleryana Decne., P. hondoensis Kikuchi and Nakai, P. koehnei C. Schneider, P. pashia Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don, P. pyrifolia (Burm.f.) Nakai cv. Shinseiki, P. regelii Rheder, P. ussuriensis Maxim., and the Pyronia veitchii selection failed to root in any of the treatments. Twenty-five of 32 P. communis L. cultivars and three other species rooted on at least one of the treatments. Chemical names used: 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 1H-indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 1H-indole-3-acetic acid (IAA).