In vitro reproduction of rare and endemic species of rowan tree

Abstract

The preservation and reproduction of gene resources of rare and endemic rowan species were the main aims of this study. Rowan species represent important woody trees from the aspect of forest biodiversity. There are only several endemic rowan species in the Czech Republic which are of hybridogenous origin from the whitebeam (Sorbus aria) range. Most of them have been described only at the end of the 20th century. For these species, the new procedures of vegetative reproduction were developed. In vitro cultures from dormant buds of 57 mature trees were established. The successful induction of organogenesis was achieved in a MS modified medium with 0.2 mg.l-1 of BAP, 0.1 mg.l-1 of IBA, 200 mg.l-1 of glutamine, 2 mg.l-1 of glycine, 200 mg.l-1 of casein hydrolysate, 30 mg.l-1 of sucrose, and 6 mg.l-1 of agar. The pH was adjusted to 5.8. NAA in the concentration of 13.5 mg.l-1 was efficient for the rooting of microcuttings. An efficient protocol for the reproduction of endemic rowan species by means of organogenesis induction in apical meristems of dormant buds is reported.

Keywords

• sorbus
• micropropagation
• organogenesis
• preservation of gene sources