ISHS Acta Horticulturae 256: V International Symposium on Pear Growing
COMMERCIAL IN VITRO MICROPROPAGATION OF PEAR CV CONFERENCE |
| Authors: | J.A. Baviera, J.L. García, M. Ibarra | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract:
The traditional propagation technique of pear trees by grafting on quince, seedlings or clonal selection of Pyrus communis is not completely satisfactory because of the lack of compatibility with some cultivars, heterogenesis of the pear seedlings and excess growth and also due to the sensitivity of the grafted plants to 'Pear decline'. Growing pear trees with their own roots is another possibility that would overcome the previous problems. The technique of commercial in vitro micropropagation of the pear cv. Conference is described in this paper. The materials used were virus free branches of Conference taken during the winter.
After transferring the shoots to the greenhouse, they were disinfected by using sodium hypoclorite to 0.7 % of active chlorine for 20 minutes followed by three rinses in sterilized water.
The base medium in the different stages was: Murashige Skoog salts Zucherelli vitamins, 3 % sugar and 0.7 % Difco agar.
The best hormones and right concentrations for each stage were:
The culture room conditions were: temperature at 20–22°C and light intensity of 3000 lux, with a photoperiod of 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness. The rooted plants were transferred to a peat-perlite mixture in the greenhouse under controlled moisture conditions of nearly 100 % and light of 1000 lux. The survival percentage was excellent, i.e., more than 90 %. To conclude, the propagation technique described here can be used to provide the fruitgrower with self-rooted pear trees at a cheaper price, and suggest the possibility of having high density plantations, as currently practised with peach cultivars. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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