MICROPROPAGATION IN WILD PEAR (PYRUS-SYRICA)

Some factors which affect the in vitro propagation of wild pear (Pyrus syrica) were studied, Successful shoot proliferation was obtained on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 1.5-2.0 mg l(-1) benzyl a denine. Shoot height decreased to 1.8-1.6 cm and 1.3 cm with benzyl ad enine (1.5-2.0 mg l(-1)) and zeatin (1.0-2.0 mg l(-1)), respectively. Benzyi adenine (at 2.0 mg l(-1)) and zeatin (at 1.5-2.0 mg l(-1))enhan ced callus formation. Indole butyric acid, indole acetic acid and naph thalene acetic acid induced in vitro rooting and a maximum of 72% root ing was achieved at 3.0 mg l(-1) indole acetic acid. Neither activated charcoal nor polyvinylpyrrolidone influenced in vitro rooting. Ex vit ro rooting was unsuccessful when treating shoot microcuttings with 0.0 , 5.0, 10.0, or 15.0 mg l(-1) indole butyric acid, indole acetic acid, or naphthalene acetic acid for 1 h and grown under intermittent water mist. An average of 95% survival was achieved when rooted microshoots were acclimatized under glass or plastic covers using intermittent mi st in the greenhouse. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.