In vitroplantlet regeneration of mature chestnut

Abstract

Shoot formation and plantlet regeneration have been induced from shoot tip expiants of mature chestnut. Stump sprouts were collected in winter from three clones of Castanea sativa χ B. crenata hybrids selected for their resistance to root rot disease. After cold storage at 4°C they were planted in perlite in the glasshouse and the new shoots used to establish initial expiant cultures on Murashige and Skoog’s medium with half strength nitrates containing BAP. The effects of nine macroelement formulae on the multiplication rate and elongation of the cultures were studied. The optimal concentration of BAP for shoot multiplication was 0.2 mg l^-1. The addition of 0.01-1.0 mg 1^_1 of NAA did not improve the multiplication rate nor the general appearance of the cultures. Rooting was achieved by dipping the basal ends of shoots regenerated in vitro in a 0.5 g l^-1 solution of IBA for 15 min or for 2 min at 1.0g l^-1.