In vitro embryo germination and proliferation of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.)

Abstract

In vitro development of isolated embryos and axillary bud proliferation were studied in Pistacia vera L. Different regulator-free nutrient media were compared to determine the effects of the minerai solution. agar and sucrose concentrations on seedling development from mature embryos. Nutrient-rich MS [ Murashige. T., Skoog, F., 1962. A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tabacco tissue cultures. Physiol. Plant. 15. 473-479 I and DKW /Driver, J.A., Kuniyuki, A.M., 1984. In vitro propagation of Paradox walnut rootstock. HortScience 19, 507-5091 minerai solutions were more efficient for the development of aerial parts than nutrient-poor KN [Knop, W., 1884. Bereitung einer concentrierten nahrstofflosung für pflanzen. Landwersulissat 30, 292-2941 and WT [Withe. P.R., 1936. Plant tissue cultures. Bot. Rev. 2, 419-437) solutions. Reducing the agar concentration enhanced fresh malter production and balanced seedling development. When tested at different concentrations, sucrose was found tu orient mature embryo development, with the best results obtained at concentrations of 2- 4%. whereas high concentrations (6 and 12%) mainly inhibited elongation of the aerial parts. Plantlets obtained previously from in vitro cultured embryos were propagated by axillary budding. High bud proliferation (six shoots per expiant) was achieved when using 17.8 [..cM benzyladenine (BA) combined with 0.5 p,M indole-3- butyric acid (IBA).The addition of 2.9 p.,M gibberellic acid (GA3) to the propagation medium did not improve axillary shoot yields and on average. media with CA3 produced 2.3-2.6 elongated stems per cultured expiant. Shoots were rooted in vitro in half-strength MS medium containing 12.3 p.M IBA.