ENCAPSULATION OF MICROPROPAGATED BUDS OF 6 WOODY SPECIES

Regrowth after encapsulation in a sodium alginate matrix of micropropa gated buds from six different in vitro proliferated woody species was evaluated. Actinidia deliciosa Liang & Ferguson (kiwifruit), Betula pe ndula Roth (birch), Crataegus oxyacantha L. (hawthorn), Malus spp. (ap ple), Rubus spp. (blackberry) and Rubus idaeus L. (raspberry) propagat ed in vitro were used as bud sources. Encapsulation with sodium algina te and subsequent regrowth on nutrient rich medium was compared to enc apsulation with nutrient-enriched alginate capsules followed by regrow th on nutrientless medium. Apical and sub-apical buds of Malus (rootst ock 'M.27' and cultivar 'Starkspur Red') were also compared for encaps ulation and regrowth ability. All species showed a regrowth after enca psulation, but only if cultured on enriched media. 'M.27' apical and s ub-apical buds showed different regrowth ability after encapsulation w ith sodium alginate. Applicability of encapsulation of single micropro pagated tree buds is discussed.