THE PULSED ELECTRO-MAGNETIC FIELD STIMULATION EFFECT ON DEVELOPMENT OF PRUNUS CERASIFERA IN VITRO-DERIVED PLANTLETS

Pulsed electro-magnetic field (PEMF) stimulations were applied to in vitro propagated Prunus cerasifera plantlets taken from two different culture media. Plantlets derived from the multiplication medium were termed M plantlets, while those deriving from the elongation medium were termed E plantlets. Plant material was cultured in glass vessels containing perlite soaked with a modified MS medium supplemented with 0.4 mg 1^-1 IBA in order to induce rooting. The vessels were placed between two magnetic field generating external coils, which were electrically connected in series. The rapidly time-varying magnetic field affected M plantlets by increasing newly-formed shoot number and rooting percentage, shortening roots, extending plantlet length and increasing fresh and dry weight. The number of roots per rooted M plantlet explant was not different from that recorded for E plantlets.