Introduction and establishment of apricot in vitro through regeneration ofshoots from meristem tips

In this study different aspects of the in vitro introduction and establishm ent of apricot cultivars were investigated through meristem tip culture. Th e best time to introduce the meristems of 'Canino' was when buds were start ing to swell. Various plant growth regulators were used at different concen trations on four distinct apricot cultivars to promote the development of t he meristems to shoots which could then be micropropagated. Very diverse re sults were obtained depending on the genotype. In general. meristems did no t survive without N-6-benzyladenine. Concentrations of gibberellic acid fro m 2 to 4 mg 1(-1) (5.8-11.4 mu M) promoted explant elongation. This step, w as critically important to obtain apricot shoots large enough to be transfe rred to proliferation medium.