Abstract

The present study aimed to develop micropropagation procedure for Prunus persica cv. Garnem. Shoot induction and multiplication was found from nodal explants cultured on MS medium fortified with different concentrations of two cytokinins (6-benzyladeninepourine and Kinetin) alone and in combination with 0.5 mg/l gibberellic acid and 0.01 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid. Microplantlets were cultured to root on ½ strength MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid and α-naphthalene-acetic acid alone. 6-Benzyladeninepourine (0.5 mg/l) with indole-3-butyric acid (0.01 mg/l) and gibberellic acid (0.5 mg/l) was found to be the optimum combination treatment for shoot initiation (100%). 6-Benzyladeninepourine (2.0 mg/l) with indole-3-butyric acid (0.01 mg/l) and gibberellic acid (0.5 mg/l) was found to be optimum for maximum shoot number per explant (7.67). The maximum rooting (42.86%), maximum root number/shoot (6.33) and longest rooting (7.17 cm) were found at 1.5 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid. α-naphthalene-acetic acid was found to be not effective. The plantlets were acclimatized in the glasshouse and survival percentage was 73.3% at potting mixture of autoclaved river sand, forest soil and manure in a 2:1:1 (v/v/v) ratio.

Key words: Acclimatization, auxin, cytokinin, micropropagation, Prunus persica.