Optimization Studies of Culture Media for In-Vitro Clonal Micropropagation of New Grape Varieties
This article describes the effect of Gautheret, White, Heller and Murashige & Skoog mineral salts during in-vitro clonal micropropagation of new grape varieties. The optimal mineral compositions of the culture medium that support the in-vitro regeneration of isolated grape explants were identified. The grapes that were studied were the Bart and Augustine varieties. Primary grape explants were cultivated for 30 days in a non-transplanted culture. Increased regenerative activity was observed in the Murashige & Skoog and White media. Increased haemogenesis occurred and shoots regenerated. The addition of cytokinin 6-BAP to the medium for obtaining aseptic culture led to an increase in the frequency of shoot-bud production by 5 to 6 times, depending on the type of medium. Combining 6-BAP with the auxin NAA provided an additional increase in the frequency of shoot-bud production, but to a lesser extent. Adding growth regulators to the culture medium also reduced the frequency of explant necrosis. Keywords: grapes, mineral salts, culture medium, microclonal propagation, in-vitro, cytokinins, auxins