Establishing an efficient in vitro propagation system for sweet cherry rootstocks Gisela 12 and Maxma 14 and assessment of genetic homogeneity by ISSR markers

Abstract

This survey is aimed at the assessment of the possible effect of different plant growth regulators (PGRs) on the micropropagation of commercial sweet cherry rootstocks Gisela 12 (Prunus cerasus × Prunus canescens), and Maxma 14 (Prunus avium × Prunus mahaleb). To study Gisela 12 and Maxma 14 micropropagation were assessed utilizing lateral buds. The treatments used for the establishment and shoots proliferation included MS medium fortified by benzyl amino purine (BAP) (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg L⁻¹) and indol-3-butyric acid (IBA) (0, 0.25, 0.50 and 1.0 mg L⁻¹). For rooting, IBA was used at four levels (0.0, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 mg L⁻¹) in combination with 0.0, 0.25, and 0.50 mg L⁻¹ naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) in full and half-strength MS media. Maximum shoot multiplication for Gisela 12 (6.2 shoots/explants) and Maxma 14 (4.4 shoots/explants) were observed on MS medium reinforced with 2.0 mg L⁻¹ BAP with 0.25 mg L⁻¹ IBA. The best rooting response of Gisela 12 (100%) and Maxma 14 (88.88%) was also achieved on half-strength MS including 1.0 mg L⁻¹ IBA plus 0.25 NAA and 0.5 IBA plus 0.25 NAA, respectively. The ISSR banding profile showed the genetic stability of propagated plants along with the mother plant. This is the first study evaluating the use of molecular markers for genetic uniformity test, which can be applied for large-scale propagation