First report of Krymsk® 5 (cv. VSL 2) cherry rootstock in vitro propagation: Studying the effect of cytokinins, auxins and endogenous sugars

Abstract

Krymsk® 5 (VSL-2) is a semi-dwarf cherry rootstock adaptable to a range of climates. The present study aimed to establish the first efficient in vitro propagation protocol for this rootstock. Therefore, six cytokinines, four adenine type (6- benzyladenine, 2-isopentenyladenine, kinetin and meta-topolin) and two phenylureas (thidiazuron and forchlorfenuron) at three (2.4 μM, 4.8 μM and 9.6 μM) concentrations plus three (0.24 μM, 0.48 μM, 0.96 μM) for thidiazuron only were tested during the multiplication stage. 6-Benzyladenine was the most efficient cytokinin, based on the number of shoots produced (3.5 shoots at 9.6 μM) and the number of nodes per explant (10 nodes at 9.6 μM) whereas the other aromatic adenine tested, i.e. meta-topolin, presented the highest number of nodes per cm and node per shoot. During the rooting stage the synthetic auxins 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (1-NAA) and indolebutyric acid (IBA) were tested at concentrations of 0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 μM both separately and in all possible combinations. The percentage of successfully rooted explants reached 95% under the combination of 20 μM IBA plus 5 μM 1-NAA, whereas the highest number of roots recorded was 8.5 roots for the treatment 20 μM IBA plus 2.5 μM 1-NAA. Furthermore, two different carbon sources were compared, the widely used sucrose and the endogenous sugar ratio of mother plant softwood shoot, sampled during late of May. Endogenous sugar ratio proved to be the preferable carbon source, since it increased the number of shoots produced and almost doubled the number of produced nodes per explant.