IN-VITRO ADVENTITIOUS SHOOT REGENERATION FROM LEAVES OF PRUNUS SPP

A high level of adventitious shoot regeneration was obtained from proliferating shoots in vitro for a range of Prunus spp. There was a significant variability in clone response to a range of adventitious shoot regeneration treatments. Treatment of apricot clone H.152 with Quoirin macroelements (C.R. Rech., Stu. Cult. Fruit. Maraicheres Gemblaux (1977) 93-117), and both apricot clone H.146 and hybrid plum clone P.1869 with half-strength Murashige and Skoog medium, consistently induced regeneration. Thidiazuron (TDZ) alone, or in combination with naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), was most effective in stimulating adventitious shoot production, the optimum concentration being clone-dependent. Addition of silver nitrate (AgNO3) to regeneration media enhanced regeneration by 10-40% and reduced the variability between experiments. Regeneration with AgNO3 was obtained also for three other plum clones belonging to the P. marianna, P. domestica and P. insititia species.