In Vitro Propagation of Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.)

Abstract

The success of mass micropropagation of fruit trees may be reached by using plant tissues culture techniques, since this has shown efficient results on seedling production with high quality and health. Preliminary experiments were carried out to define the constitution of culture medium that provides better results, in multiplication as well as in vitro rooting and acclimation methods of blackberry cv. 'Triple Crown' (Rubus fruticosus L.). The best survival percentage was 90% when both shoot tips and stem segments were treated with 40% sodium hypochlorite for 30 minutes. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.0 mg BA+0.5 mg 2ip/l was the most efficient treatment on in vitro multiplication of blackberry inducing a higher number of shoots was 7.78 shoot/ explant. Also the combinations of MS medium with NAA and BA improved the multiplication of blackberry in vitro, the highest value was 4.42 shoot/explant that was observed in the presence of 1.0 mg BA combined with 0.1 mg NAA /l. The best rooting condition for explants of the blackberry was reached by keeping the explants in full strength MS medium enriched with 2.0 mg IBA+0.5 mg NAA/l which produced long roots with sub roots which were thick and involved in medium.