THE GROWTH POTENTIAL OF OLIVE FRUIT MESOCARP IN VITRO (OLEA EUROPEA)

The potential of olive fruit mesocarp to develop in vitro was studied with fruit of the Manzanillo cultivar.
Both Auxin and Cytokinin were essential for callus induction and growth.
IAA was the most active auxin and kinetin the most active cytokinin in promoting the callus development.
Equal concentrations, 2 mg/l of both regulators were optimal.
No polarity was found in the excised olive mesocarp tissue.
The callus development and growth were dependent on the age of the fruit.
Mesocarp of young fruits had a considerable lag period before callus formation and a weak growth rate thereafter.
During the development of the fruit this lag shortened and callus growth increased.
Later, before green ripening and with accumulation of oil, the lag period increased again and the mesocarp lost its growth potential which reached zero with green ripening.
Comparative morphological and anatomical studies of the mesocarp were made in relation to oil accumulation and its growth potential in vitro.

Symposium on Tissue Culture for Horticultural Purposes

S. Lavee

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1977.78.13