INFLUENCE OF EXPLANT TYPE (MERISTEM VS. AXILLARY SHOOTS) ON THE INTRODUCTION AND ESTABLISHMENT IN VITRO OF FOUR APRICOT CULTIVARS

The effect of the explant origin (meristems or axillary shoots) on the in vitro introduction and establishment of four apricot cultivars was investigated. When axillary shoots were used, the contamination percentages were significantly higher than when meristems were the explants chosen for the introduction. However, the survival of the explants was better when axillary shoots were used for the introduction and, also, the time necessary to produce elongated shoots that could be transferred to a micropropagation medium was shorter. The period of time that shoots had to be micropropagated before they became competent to root was much shorter when the introduction was done using axillary shoots as explants. Rooting of these apricot cultivars was sufficient in all cases, regardless of the type of explant used during introduction or the number of subcultures before rooting was attempted. There were no differences in rooting ability between shoots micropropagated from meristems and from axillary shoots.