Protocols for Micropropagation of Woody Trees and Fruits

CHAPTER 37
MICROPROPAGATION OF FIG TREE
(FICUS CARICA L.)
1. INTRODUCTION
Fig tree plantations cover 426.244 hectare area worldwide with an overall yield of
1.070.676 million tones. The largest fig producing countries are Turkey, Egypt, Iran,
Greece and Algeria (FAOSTAT, 2006). The planting of the species occurs predominantly
with vegetatively propagated plants, especially by the rooting of cuttings.
This fact contributes significantly to the dissemination of pathogens which affect the
yield potential of the crop. Through micropropagation of fig tree it is possible
to obtain pathogen free plantlets and this is one of the basic requirements for a
successful commercial orchard. Furthermore, the technique has the advantage of
large-scale production, providing plantlets whenever needed. Aside the advantages
of micropropagation, in vitro culture has also supported the research on transgenic
plants obtained by genetic transformation.
2.1. Conditions of the Mother Plant
1 2
M. PASQUAL AND E.A. FERREIRA
1
Tissue Culture Laboratory, Agricultural Department, Federal University of Lavras
PO BOX 3037, 37200-000 Lavras MG, Brazil, E-mail: mpasqual@ufla.br
2
Fruit Culture Section, EPAMIG P.O. BOX 351, 38060-040
Uberaba, MG, Brazil, E-mail: ester@epamig.br
2. EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOL
The mother plants must be in good phytosanitary and nutritional conditions in order
to facilitate the decontamination of the explants during isolation. Spraying systemic
agents solutions such as benomyl (Benlate) or Terramycin (oxytetracycline) with
streptomycin sulfate (Agrimycin) is effective, when compared with non-systemic
fungicides containing different active principles. These applications must follow a
rigorous chronogram and the explants must be collected preferably between 24 and
48 h after the last spraying.
409
S.M. Jain and H. Häggman (eds.), Protocols for Micropropagation of Woody Trees and Fruits, 409–416.
© 2007 Springer.