IN VITRO MICRO-ENVIRONMENTS TO IMPROVE GROWTH OF OLIVE PLANTLETS DURING THE ROOTING PHASE

The behaviour of olive plantlets (cv.
Frantoio) during the last phase of in vitro culture was investigated before transplanting.
Olive plants were in vitro propagated according to Rugini (1984). Two types of closure device were compared during experiments in the pre-acclimatization phase: caps with air permeable membranes (“aerated vessels”) and traditional caps without ventilation (“closed vessels”). Two rooting matrix, agarized and sandy, were also tested both containing half strength OM mineral solution with 25 g l^-1 of mannitol, 0.5 mg l^-1 -naphthateneacetic acid (NAA) and 160 mg l^-1 putrescine dihidrochloride.
In vitro morphogenetic ability and rooting of olive microcuttings were affected by the different environment conditions arising from the culture vessels.
Different photosynthetic activities of the two cultures, depending on the different rate of available CO₂, were observed.
Growth of olive explants cultivated on both media increased in aerated systems in comparison with the closed ones.
Root development was markedly increased on the aerated and agarized cultures.
The use of permeable vessels enabled us to obtain vigorous plants to face the transplant stress.

IV International Symposium on Olive Growing

M. Lucchesini, C. Vitagliano

Olive, in vitro rooting, micro-environment, aerated vessels, closed vessels, gas exchange, net photosynthetic rate.

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.586.195