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Abstract
The use of a small number of cultivars in agriculture can lead to a loss of agrobiodiversity. Since in vitro techniques are valuable tools for conserving plant biodiversity, an efficient micropropagation protocol for four Italian hazelnut cultivars, ‘Carrello’, ‘Ghirara’, ‘Minnulara’, and ‘Panottara’, was developed. The highest axillary bud survival was obtained after decontamination with 40 min 1% sodium hypochlorite followed by 40 min 0.1% sodium merthiolate in ‘Minnulara’ and ‘Ghirara’, while the 35 + 35 min treatment was the best for ‘Carrello’ and ‘Panottara’. Shoot multiplication was higher in ‘Minnulara’ and ‘Ghirara’ when 6.6 μM N6-benzyladenine was used, even if some hyperhydric shoots were observed, while metatopolin was more effective in the other two cultivars. In vitro rooting, performed in ‘Carrello’ and ‘Panottara’, was higher with 17.6 than with 9.8 µM indole-3-butyric. Following in vitro root induction with 17.6 µM indole-3-butyric acid for 7 days, rooting and acclimatisation in greenhouse exceeded 85% for all four cultivars.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Italian Agricultural Ministry (RGV-FAO Project). The authors wish to thank Prof. Basilio Baratta for providing the plant material. Thanks are also due to University of Palermo (Italy) for the ‘Mediterranean Fruit Crops’ Ph.D. course, attended by Dr. Alessandra Sgueglia.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.