Micropropagation of Medlar (Mespilus germanica L.), A Mediterranean Fruit Tree

A micropropagation method has been developed for the first time for difficult to propagate small fruit plant medlar (Mespilus germanica L.). Embryonic axes excised from surface-disinfected and microbe-free seed(s), were inoculated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium for activation/germination. Axillary bud(s) derived from embryonic axes were used as explants, cultured on the MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The 86.33% of the explant exhibited shoot induction within 59.00 days on media with 2.00 mg l(-1) BA together with 0.50 mg l(-1) NAA. The highest number (8.50/plantlet) of leaf, and node (7.53/plantlet) and the longest (7.26 cm/plantlet) root length were obtained on MS with 2.00 mg l(-1) BA together with 1.00 mg l(-1) NAA. Maximum number (6.30/plantlet) of shoot and root (5.66/plantlet) were regenerated on MS medium supplemented with 0.50 mg l(-1) BA together with 1.00 mg l(-1) NAA. Plantlets were transferred to pots filled with perlite and peat moss in equal proportions for acclimatization. Cent percent of the cloned plantlets survived under ex vitro conditions. The method described will be useful for rapid multiplication of medlar for commercial purposes.

Automated summary

A micropropagation method was developed for the difficult to propagate small fruit plant medlar, using embryonic axes as explants cultured in MS medium supplemented with growth regulators. This method resulted in successful multiplication of plantlets with high survival rates in ex vitro conditions, providing a useful tool for commercial purposes.