Efficient Micropropagation of Chestnut Hybrids ( Castanea spp.)

The chestnuts genus (Castanea spp.) is comprised of economically important trees native to the Northern hemisphere that are used as food and hardwood timber. Here, a very efficient method for micropropagation of European ? Japanese chestnut hybrids (Castanea sativa ? C. crenata) is described. Woody Plant Medium was used as the basal medium. In vitro shoots of four rootstock cultivars were micropropagated without shoot-tip necrosis on multiplication medium containing 5.7 or 11.4 ?mol?L ?1 zeatin riboside, and were rooted on rooting medium containing 2.46 ?mol?L ?1 indolebutyric acid. Monthly shoot multiplication rates for each cultivar were 2?5 folds. In vitro rooting percentages for four cultivars were 87% for ?Maraval?, 67% for ?Marigoule?, 93% for ?Marsol?, and 97% for ?Pr?coce Migoule?. Within a 5 week period, 80%?95% of rooted shoots were successfully acclimated under high humidity conditions after they were planted in either soil or rockwool.

Automated summary

The efficient method described in the study involves micropropagation of European ? Japanese chestnut hybrids using specific media and plant growth hormones, resulting in successful shoot multiplication and rooting. Acclimatization of rooted shoots under high humidity conditions showed high success rates within a short period of time.