Micropropagation of Rubus spp.

Abstract

Rapid micropropagation of ‘Black Satin’, ‘Thornless Evergreen’ and ‘Bedford Giant’ was achieved by culturing shoot tips in a 1/1 MS. The best medium in the introduction stage contained 2.0 mg/l BAP. Shoot proliferation occurred with 3.0 mg/1BAP. Some problems with callus and phenolic compounds appeared in both introduction and shoot multiplication stages. The plantlets were rooted either in 1/10 MS without hormones or directly in peat. Two months later most of ‘Black Satin’ and ‘Bedford Giant’ and about half of ‘Thornless Evergreen’ were growing steadily. Theoretically it is possible to produce 60,000 plants within a half year by this method.