In vitro bulblet production and acclimatization studies in some Fritillaria species

In order to micropropogate Fritillaria imperialis and F. persica, the process of in vitro bulblet formation and effects of such treatments on acclimatization of these bulbs obtained by using mature seeds and pedicels of the plants were investigated in this study. Mature seeds were vernalized on MS medium for 3 months at +4oC temperature in order to generate bulbs, then the bulbs were cut into halves and transferred to MS mediums including 2 mg/l thidiazuron for 3 months. Bulblets were incubated for 4 months on MS mediums including 60 g/l sucrose or fructose to observe the effects of different sugar types on their growing. For increasing root developement bulbs were cultivated on ½ MS mediums including 0.5 mg/l IBA for 4 months. Germination ratio for F. imperialis was 73% and 76% of the germinated seeds produced bulblets. As for F. persica, 82.1% of the seeds germinated and 82% of them produced bulblets. Sucrose was found more effective on bulblet developement. For F. imperialis, on the MS medium including sucrose, bulblets were developed 5 times better than begining of the culture; while on the medium including fructose it was only 2.2 times better. Regarding F. persica, on the MS medium including sucrose, bulblets were developed 3.8 times better than begining of the culture; while on the medium including fructose it was only 1.5 times better. 40% of F. imperialis bulblets and 35.8% F. persica bulblets rooted on rooting mediums. The bulbs regenerated and developed were transplanted into soil with applying bacteria (Serratia marcescens), algea (Spirulina platensis) or organic rooting powder. They were kept in acclimatization cabins at 23oC temperature and long day photoperiod (16h light/8h darkness) for 4 months. Approximately 30% of bulblets applied bacteria were survived. Peduncles of both species were cut into 1 cm long for per pieces and transplanted on mediums following surface sterilization. And all the cultures were kept in growth chamber set up at 20oC temperature and under permenant darkness. End of the first month calli and bulblet developements were observed. Keywords: Acclimatization, Tissue culture, Fritillaria, Micropropagation