Fast and Efficient In-vitro Multiplication of Apple Clonal Root Stock MM-106

Apple is the major fruit crop of the world and and is vegetatively propagated. Since vegetative propagation of apple through grafting or budding depends on availability of quality root stocks. Generally apple rootstocks are carriers of many viruses which have no control measures after they are infecting the plant. Hence in present study production of virus free clonal root stocks in apple through meristem culture was done. Apple faces many biotic stresses majorly viral diseases. In the present study protocol for micropropagation of apple root stock MM-106 was standardized using meristem as an explant. Different phytohormone combinations were tried to optimize the best combination for development of fast and efficient micropropagation protocol. Meristem was cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of BAP alone and in combination with IBA, phloroglucinol and GA(3) for initial establishment, multiplication and rooting. Best initial establishment was observed on MS media supplemented with BAP (2 mg/l) + IBA (0.5 mg/l) + Phloroglucinol (100mg/l). Maximum number of shoots (13.0), length of shoots (9.67 cm), leaf length (3.47cm) and leaf number (15.3) was observed on MS media supplemented with BAP (1mg/l) + GA(3) (0.5 mg/l). Maximum number (16.3) and length of roots (10.20 cm) was observed on MS media supplemented with IBA (3 mg/l). Acclimatization of rooted plants was done on moist cotton for 10 - 12 days followed by vermiculite: cocopeat for four weeks. About 80% of plants survive after 6 months of transfer to the soil under polyhouse house conditions.