Articles
Micrografting in almond (Prunus dulcis) Portuguese cultivars for production of disease-free plants
Article number
1359_20
Pages
165 – 172
Language
English
Abstract
Almond is an important tree nut crop (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) whose consumption has been increasing in the last years due to its nutritional value.
In Portugal, new orchards are being installed in the Alentejo and Beira Interior regions.
Almond trees are often infected with Prunus dwarf virus (PDV) and Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) which affect productivity and have been responsible for significant economic losses.
Micrografting allows the placement of a shoot explant of a specific cultivar onto a decapitated rootstock, in aseptic conditions.
The aim of this work was the optimization of protocol for micrografting almond Portuguese cultivars, in order to generate virus-free plants suitable for field establishment.
RT-PCR method was used to analyze micropropagated in vitro plantlets and field-grown almond trees for checking the presence of PNRSV. And in two cultivars collected from the field, the PNRSV was detected.
Concerning the in vitro micrografting assays, the almond cultivar seems to influence the healing and success of micrografting, while the rooted rootstocks influence positively the success of micrografting and acclimatization.
For in vitro rooting assay of bitter almond shoots, the MWP + 1 mg L‑1 IBA condition presented the best rooting rate and the number of root formations.
The knowledge obtained with this work will allow the design of an efficient protocol for micrografting almond Portuguese cultivars.
This technique is being applied in several tree nuts not only for the production of disease-free plants but also for rejuvenation of mature tissues and elimination of the virus.
In Portugal, new orchards are being installed in the Alentejo and Beira Interior regions.
Almond trees are often infected with Prunus dwarf virus (PDV) and Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) which affect productivity and have been responsible for significant economic losses.
Micrografting allows the placement of a shoot explant of a specific cultivar onto a decapitated rootstock, in aseptic conditions.
The aim of this work was the optimization of protocol for micrografting almond Portuguese cultivars, in order to generate virus-free plants suitable for field establishment.
RT-PCR method was used to analyze micropropagated in vitro plantlets and field-grown almond trees for checking the presence of PNRSV. And in two cultivars collected from the field, the PNRSV was detected.
Concerning the in vitro micrografting assays, the almond cultivar seems to influence the healing and success of micrografting, while the rooted rootstocks influence positively the success of micrografting and acclimatization.
For in vitro rooting assay of bitter almond shoots, the MWP + 1 mg L‑1 IBA condition presented the best rooting rate and the number of root formations.
The knowledge obtained with this work will allow the design of an efficient protocol for micrografting almond Portuguese cultivars.
This technique is being applied in several tree nuts not only for the production of disease-free plants but also for rejuvenation of mature tissues and elimination of the virus.
Authors
A. Faustino, R.C. Pires, S. Caeiro, A. Rosa, A. Marreiros, J. Canhoto, S. Correia, L. Marum
Keywords
almond trees, traditional cultivars, tissue culture, rooting, viruses, Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV)
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