In Vitro Conservation of Prunus Avium, an Endangered Species in Tunisia, Using a Plant Extract of Rubus Fruticosus Compared to Indole-3-Butyric Acid

Abstract

Prunus avium L. is the rarest forest fruit tree in northwestern Tunisia, with strong socio-economic, agronomic, and commercial potential. The aim of this study was to provide more information about the domestication of this species by using an inexpensive in vitro culture technique for micropropagation of meristems. The plant extract used in this study was Rubus fruticosus. The results showed that the best concentration of the extract of R. fruticosus applied for the budding of meristematic microcuttings was 15 g/L, with a 100% success rate. The maximum number of adventitious shoots (7.15 ± 0.35) was obtained for the meristematic microcuttings at a concentration of 15 g/L of the extract. These results indicated that the extracted R. fruticosus plant promotes the neoformation of adventitious shoots and leaves. Rhizogenesis was strongly favored by the addition of 1 mg/L of IBA and 15 g/L of plant extract to the MS medium, which leads to the formation of roots for the meristematic micro-cuttings with percentages of about 80.36% and 53.32%, respectively. The current investigation proved that in vitro micropropagation could constitute a good alternative to the regeneration of this rare forest fruit species and may be applicable to other endangered plants.