Axenic culture of shoot apices of apple

Abstract

Shoot apices of Granny Smith apple (1 mm long) were grown in axenic culture on defined media including auxins, gibberellic acid, and cytokinins. In the presence of a cytokinin (6-benzylaminopurine at 10⁻⁷M or zeatin at 10⁻⁸M) apices grew into leafy shoots. No roots were formed but cultured apices continued to grow and form new leaves for several months after excision.