In vitro propagation of a semi-dwarfing cherry rootstock

A successful in vitro propagation system for the semi-dwarfing cherry rootstock Maxma-14 (Prunus avium L.) has been developed. Shoot tips and axillary buds were successfully established in vitro. Multiplication rate of about 6 was achieved over a 4-week period using Murashige and Skoog medium with 4.44 μM benzyladenine and 0.49 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Rooting occurred within 4 weeks on liquid and agar-gelled media containing 0.49 μM NAA or 0.49, 2.45 μM IBA. On liquid media, a maximum rooting efficiency of up to 100% was obtained. However, high concentrations of auxins delayed the time of root initiation for 3–5 days. Acclimatization was affected directly by rooting conditions. Survival was best when plantlets were transferred to pots after a short period of root emergence on rooting media. Multiplication medium was also important for successful acclimatization. Shoots transferred to rooting media from that with kinetin resulted in better acclimatization and survival than that derived from media with benzyladenine. Further, plantlets rooted on liquid media had better survival than that rooted on agar-gelled media.