Micropropagation of Medlar (Mespilus germanica L.), A Mediterranean Fruit Tree

ABSTRACT

A micropropagation method has been developed for the first time for difficult to propagate small fruit plant medlar (Mespilus germanica L.). Embryonic axes excised from surface-disinfected and microbe-free seed(s), were inoculated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium for activation/germination. Axillary bud(s) derived from embryonic axes were used as explants, cultured on the MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The 86.33% of the explant exhibited shoot induction within 59.00 days on media with 2.00 mg l^–1 BA together with 0.50 mg l^–1 NAA. The highest number (8.50/plantlet) of leaf, and node (7.53/plantlet) and the longest (7.26 cm/plantlet) root length were obtained on MS with 2.00 mg l^–1 BA together with 1.00 mg l^–1 NAA. Maximum number (6.30/plantlet) of shoot and root (5.66/plantlet) were regenerated on MS medium supplemented with 0.50 mg l^–1 BA together with 1.00 mg l^–1 NAA. Plantlets were transferred to pots filled with perlite and peat moss in equal proportions for acclimatization. Cent percent of the cloned plantlets survived under ex vitro conditions. The method described will be useful for rapid multiplication of medlar for commercial purposes.

KEYWORDS:

• In vitro multiplication
• lateral bud explants
• Mediterranean shrubs
• plant growth regulators

Acknowledgments

Financial support by Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, grant no. 17/16/4/16034 is gratefully acknowledged.

Declaration of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.