USE OF PETIOLE SEGMENTS OF ACTINIDIA CHINENSIS (KLWI) FOR PLANT DIFFERENTIATION AND PRODUCTION OF FRIABLE CALLI FOR PROTOPLAST ISOLATION

Petiole segments of Actinidia chinensis produced meristems 4weeks after inoculation on MS medium with sucrose reduced to 20g.1^-1 and 1mg.1^-1 zeatin/0.025mg.1^-1IAA, without adenine. Plantlets differentiation was accomplished 1 month after transfer to MS medium with macro and micronutrients reduced to ½, sucrose 20g.1^-1, 0.5mg.1^-1 zeatin/0.025mg.1^-1IAA and adenine omitted. Efficient rooting was obtained by soaking the basal cutting surface of plantlets in 20mg.1^-1IBA for 24h followed by immediate potting. 1 month after, vigorous well rooted plants were obtained.

Kiwi green calli transferred to MS medium with sucrose reduced to 20 g.1^-1 plus mannitol 10g.1^-1 and 0.5mg.1^-12, 4-D/0.05mg.1^-1NAA became friable and suitable for protoplasts isolation. High yields of viable protoplasts (about 90%) were obtained using 2% cellulase and 1% macerozyme in a developed culture medium.