The effect of light, darkness and temperature on micropropagation of the pear rootstock BP10030

Abstract

There was no effect of irradiance level on surviving percentages of shoot tip explants of the pear rootstock BP10030, but low irradiance stimulated the initial growth of the explant. Irradiance had a strong effect on shoot multiplication. With an increase in photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) from 10 to 80 μmol m−2s−1, shoot number and length and shoot fresh and dry weights increased. The greatest number of shoots and the longest ones were obtained with a 16 h photoperiod, while the highest fresh and dry weight of shoots were produced with a 24 h photoperiod. Rooting percentage and the number of roots were markedly promoted under 80 μmolm−2s−1 PPF. Photoperiods of 8, 16 and 24 h produced similar effects on rooting percentages and the numbers of roots. Four to seven days of darkness were the optimum for rooting. Rooting percentage and the number of roots increased with increased temperature during darkness between 5 and 25°C. A further increase in dark temperature up to 30°C reduced rooting percentage and ro...