Comparison of Different Culture Media and Hormonal Concentrations for In-Vitro Propagation of Pomegranate

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is one of the most popular fruits which is rich in nutrients and varied in cultivars including Hybrid, Wonderful (a sweet and delicious fruit with big size), and Seedless (sweet taste and very juicy). In this research, micropropagation of hybrid pomegranate cultivar (Wonderful and Seedless) was investigated. For the primary culture, the lateral and apical buds of pomegranate plant were used, and the plant materials were disinfected by Mercuric Chloride in the presence of Ascorbic Acid. Then disinfected explants cultivated to MS culture medium supplemented by 0.2 mg l(-1)BAP and IBA 0.01 mgl(-1)as an initial culture medium. For elongation and proliferation, BAP at five levels of 0, 0.2, 0.8, 1.4, and 2 mgl(-1), and IBA at two levels of 0 and 0.01 mgl(-1)were used in woody plant medium (WPM). To determine the most suitable rooting medium, IBA was used at concentrations of 0, 0.5, and 1 mgl(-1)in different culture media containg MS, WPM, and DKW. Different soil compositions were also used for the adaptation of plantlets. The results showed that the best concentration for Mercuric Chloride disinfectant was 0.1% and all the disinfection treatment times were appropriate. Moreover, woody plant medium with 1.4 mg l(-1)of BAP without IBA was the best culture medium for proliferation. In rooting stage, using woody plant medium was detected as the most suitable too. In the adaptation stage, using Vermicompost, Perlite, and Cocopeat (1: 1: 1) was observed to be the best treatment.