In vitro Drought Tolerant of Rootstock Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) and Pear (Pyrus calleryana)

Volume 16 , Issue 1 , October 2014 , Pages 109-116

Authors

¹ Dept. Scientific Research, Faculty of Science, University of Duhok

The apple and pear explants were cultured in MS multiplication media supplemented

with different concentrations of polyethylene glycol (6000), (0.0, 2%, 4%, and 6%). The

results revealed that PEG at 6% was more effective than 2% and 4% by producing

significantly lower average number of branches per explants (3.58) in apple and (3.62) in

pear as compared to the highest average number of branches (6.06) in apple and (9.04) in

pear achieved by control treatment. On the other hand, the shoot length and leaves

number were reduced in both apple and pear at all PEG levels. After then, the plantlets

were rooted in MS media supplemented with 1.0 mg/l NAA, and acclimatized in

greenhouse. Under in vitro conditions callus induction from apple, the response of calli to

elevated levels of PEG was recorded as fresh weight. These results indicated that increased

levels of PEG were used to create water stress. There was a reduction in callus induction

ability with increasing levels of PEG. And the control was superior compared to all other

treatments.

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