Improved micropropagation efficiency of purple artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) plantlet

Abstract

Theaimofthepresentresearchwastoimprovemicropropagationofartichoke.Seriousproblemhinderinglarge-scaleartichokemicropropagationisrootingwhichresultsinhighmortalityduringplantletacclimation.Inthisstudy,wehaveinvestigatedmicropropagationofpurpleartichoke(CynarascolymusL.)forthedevel-opmentofvirus-freeshoot,enhancedshootqualityandinvitrorootinginMurashigeandSkoog(MS)mediumsupplementedwithauxins(Indole3-butyricacid-IBAandNaphthaleneaceticacid-NAA)withdiffer-entsubstrates(perlite,rockwoolandvermiculite)andgellingagents(agarandgelrite),rootswerelongandthinwhichresultedinincreasedfragilityanddifficultywhenremovingplantletsfromthesegellingagentsgel.Theresultsshowedthatmeristem(0.5mmindiameter)culturewaseffectivetoobtainvirus-freeshootwithhigherpercentageofsurvivalandshootregeneration(72%)after30daysofculture.TheshootqualitywasimprovedwhenshootswereculturedonMSmediumsupplementedwith0.5mgL 1kinetin(KIN)in30daysandsub-culturedinto1/2MSmedium(reducedmacronutrientcontentbyhalf)withoutplantgrowthregulatorsin15days.Inaddition,shootsculturedinliquidMSmediumsupplementedwith6mgL 1IBAwithrockwoolsubstrategavethehigherinvitrorooting(90%)andnumberofrootsperplantlet(5roots)thanothercombinations.Meristemderivedplantletsgavegoodacclimatization,subsequentgrowthafter30th,60thand90thdayofcultivatinginthegreenhouseaswellashighercynarineandcatechincontentsinflowersascomparedtothecontrol.