Articles
RECOVERY OF VIRUS-FREE ALMOND PLANTS BY IMPROVED IN VITRO SHOOT-TIP GRAFTING
Article number
550_67
Pages
447 – 454
Language
English
Abstract
Shoot-tip grafting (STG) involves aseptic, in vitro grafting of excised shoot-tips from infected plants onto decapitated seedling rootstocks followed by growth of the scions to develop plant material free of virus.
STG has been used in certification schemes of citrus, however, for Prunus species an optimization of this technique is required.
In the present study, several parameters affecting success of STG were studied with almond plants infected with the ilarviruses prunus necrotic ringspot (PNRSV) and prune dwarf (PDV).
Green cuttings harvested from greenhouse-grown plants were used successfully as rootstocks for STG instead of in vitro germinated seedlings.
Peach GF305 and pecher de Missour (origin Morocco) were superior to other rootstocks.
The use of green cuttings shortened and simplified considerably the traditional rootstock preparation procedure.
Various sizes of shoot-tips excised from almond varieties were grafted in vitro and regeneration rates were determined.
About 50% graft success was obtained with shoot-tips consisting of a meristematic dome and three to four leaf primordia.
‘STG plants’ consisting of the in vitro rootstocks and developed shoot tips (almond variety), were side-grafted in the greenhouse onto vigorous GF305 plants.
Rapid growth of the grafted STG plants was observed regardless of the season.
Virus status was determined in side-grafted STG plants as soon as leaf material could be collected for an ELISA / PCR assay.
Scions found free of the tested viruses were kept and following further development and repeated testing could be harvested for propagation.
With these results, an improvement of the STG technique was obtained for almond sanitation.
The study is ongoing and its application for other Prunus species will be attempted.
STG has been used in certification schemes of citrus, however, for Prunus species an optimization of this technique is required.
In the present study, several parameters affecting success of STG were studied with almond plants infected with the ilarviruses prunus necrotic ringspot (PNRSV) and prune dwarf (PDV).
Green cuttings harvested from greenhouse-grown plants were used successfully as rootstocks for STG instead of in vitro germinated seedlings.
Peach GF305 and pecher de Missour (origin Morocco) were superior to other rootstocks.
The use of green cuttings shortened and simplified considerably the traditional rootstock preparation procedure.
Various sizes of shoot-tips excised from almond varieties were grafted in vitro and regeneration rates were determined.
About 50% graft success was obtained with shoot-tips consisting of a meristematic dome and three to four leaf primordia.
‘STG plants’ consisting of the in vitro rootstocks and developed shoot tips (almond variety), were side-grafted in the greenhouse onto vigorous GF305 plants.
Rapid growth of the grafted STG plants was observed regardless of the season.
Virus status was determined in side-grafted STG plants as soon as leaf material could be collected for an ELISA / PCR assay.
Scions found free of the tested viruses were kept and following further development and repeated testing could be harvested for propagation.
With these results, an improvement of the STG technique was obtained for almond sanitation.
The study is ongoing and its application for other Prunus species will be attempted.
Publication
Authors
A. Rizqi, M. Zemzami, S. Spiegel
Keywords
STG, PNRSV, PDV, Virus elimination
Online Articles (71)