EFFECT OF PROPAGATION METHODS ON ROOTING ABILITY OF 'TANASGOL', A NATURAL HYBRID PLUM × APRICOT (PRUNUS DOMESTICA × P. ARMENIACA)

Propagation and rooting ability of ‘‘Tanasgol’’, a natural plum × apricot hybrid (Prunus domestica × P. armeniaca), was evaluated at Shahrood Horticulture Research Station (Iran). Two propagation methods, hardwood cuttings and in vitro germination of seeds were used. The experiments were set up in two separate completely randomized designs (CRD) with three replications with 20 cuttings/seeds for each replicate. Hardwood cuttings were treated with various IBA concentrations (2000, 2500, 3000 and 4000 ppm). The concentration of 3000 ppm IBA induced 47% rooting, resulted in the best treatment among the other ones. For in vitro culture, seeds were isolated from ripened fruits of ‘Tanasgol’, surface sterilized and cultured on MS medium supplemented with 500 mg L^-1 adenine sulfate, 1.5 mg L^-1 activated charcoal and 2 mg L^-1 BAP and various concentrations of NAA (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 mg/L). After 60 days, the percentage of in vitro germinated seeds was recorded. The most suitable medium for seed germination and development was MS supplemented with 1.0 mg L^-1 NAA, giving up to 60% of successfully rooted seedlings. Using in vitro culture technique, up to 1.3 times more plantlets were obtained as compared to the hardwood cuttings.