<i>In vitro</i> micropropagation of almond (<i>Amygdalus communis L. cv. Nonpareil)</i>

Abstract

An efficient in vitro propagation method was developed for almond (Amygdalus communis L. cv. Nonpareil). The effect of BA and kinetin (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 mgl-1) on the culture initiation of zygotic
embryos isolated from mature seeds was investigated. A Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) medium containing 30 gl-1 sucrose, 0.5 and 1.0 mgl-1 N6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 7 gl-1 agar resulted in a
multiple shoot initiation at the rate of 11.0 ± 1.32 and 14.7 ± 2.12 shoot per explant, respectively, in 28 days of culture. The effects of a low concentration of BA (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mgl-1) and different
combinations of auxin + cytokinin were investigated for shoot proliferation. The best results for new shoot production were obtained from a MS culture medium which was supplemented with 1.0 mgl-1 BA.
The rooting was achieved in a ½ MS medium supplemented with 8.0 mgl-1 indole acetic acid (IAA). The in vitro raised plants were acclimatized in a growth room and successfully transplanted to the field.
This method here in described will be useful for the rapid multiplication of almond (A. communis L. cv. Nonpareil) in commercial exploitation.