In vitro propagation of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cv. "hacihaliloğlu"

Methods were developed for organogenesis of apricot, (Prunus armeniaca L.) cv.?Hacıhaliloglu?, using tissues from axenic seedlings and mature explants.An effective surface sterilization method for the production of axenic explants fromP. armeniaca mature seeds and mature apical shoots and nodal buds were achieved. Maturekernels of ?Hacıhaliloglu? from which the outer endocarp had been removed, werepres-sterilized by immersion in absolute ethanol for 40 sec. Followed by a rinse with steriledistilled water. These pre-sterilized kernels then exposed to 5% NaOCl solution for 15 minfollowed by a five rinses with sterile distilled water. In the case of explants from matureapricot materials, decontamination was best achieved when the nodal buds were surfacesterilized by immersion in an aqueous solution of 5% NaOCl (Axion) for 10 min.Methods were described for the initiation, proliferation, rooting and acclimatization ofseedlings from mature axenic seeds and mature nodal buds. The best germination rate was67%, and the mean shoot length was 17.99 mm on MS medium containing 1 mg/l BA.Inclusion of 0.3 mg/l IBA on 1 mg/l BA gave the best results for the initiation of culturesfrom nodal buds. The best periods for the explanting of nodal buds were May and June for theinitiation of cultures.The mean shoot number was found to be 2.64 ± 0.69, and 3.68 ± 0.65 when theexplants derived mature nodal buds and seedlings, respectively were used for proliferation.The mean length of shoots was found to be 5.80 ± 0.40 mm and 10.64 ± 0.90 mm when theexplant derived from mature nodal buds and seedlings, respectively for proliferation.The best rooting of mature P. armeniaca materials was achieved with the explant,subcultured only once on proliferation medium and induced to root (60%) on 2 mg/l IBA. Inthe case of seedling materials, the best rooting (60%) was achieved with 0.5 mg/l NAA.Keeping the cultures in total darkness was not beneficial for the improvement of rooting. 70-80% of surviving plantlets was obtained from the plantlets derived from seedlings and maturenodal buds 15 weeks after transferring to soil conditions, respectively.Keywords: Apricot, Prunus armeniaca L., Hacıhaliloglu, In vitro, Propagation,Organogenesis.