Protocols for Micropropagation of Woody Trees and Fruits

MICROGRAFTING OF PISTACHIO
9. The regenerated plantlets can be transferred to the shadehouse and nurtured
with N-P-K fertilizer for several months. Then, the plants can be planted in
the field.
10. The survival rate of micrografts is dependent upon the acclimatization time.
The highest survival rate of regenerated plantlets was obtained when
minimum acclimatization time was 6 weeks.
A B
Figure 3. A) Plantlets undergoing acclimatization in a mixture of peat and soil (2:1).
B) Micrografted plantlets successfully established in soil after 12 weeks from potting.
3. CONCLUSION
This regeneration protocol via in vitro micrografting is an excellent system for massscale
production of plants since the genetic constitution can be maintained and no
somaclonal variation among in vitro grown plants is observed. In vitro shoot tip
micrografting technique can be considered as an alternative to organogenesis and
somatic embryogenesis for P. vera L., especially for plant material collected from
the selected mature trees. Thus, the micrografting technique detailed in this protocol
for clonally propagating true-to-type mature P. vera genotypes has a potential for
restoring proliferation and rooting competence in mature scions.
Acknowledgements. This study was financed by a grant from the Scientific and Technical
Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK; Project No. TOGTAG-2815). The authors also wish
to thank S. Mohan JAIN and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments.
4. REFERENCES
Abousalim, A. & Mantell, S.H. (1992) Micrografting of pistachio (Pistacia vera L. cv. Mateur). Plant
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Barghchi, M. (1986) In vitro culture of mature commercial varieties of Pistacia vera L. Proc. Int. Plant
Prop. Soc. 35, 331–333.
Barghchi, M. & Alderson, P.G. (1989) Pistachio. In: Bajaj YPS (Ed) Biotechnology in Agriculture and
Forestry, Vol. 5, Trees II. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, pp. 68–98.
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