Relative water content, in vitro proliferation, and growth of Actinidia deliciosa plantlets are affected by benzyladenine

Relative water content in Actinidia deliciosa explants cultured in the presence of three benzyladenine (BA) concentrations (4.4, 44, and 440 μM) during different incubation periods were measured at different stages of the micropropagation process. BA incubation period during the multiplication phase determined the quality of A. deliciosa plantlets and affected both water content or retention capacity. Therefore, exogenous cytokinin application affected the quality and survival of plantlets in ex vitro conditions. In this sense, when 4.4 μM BA concentration was used, values higher than 20% for the dry weight/water saturated weight ratio at the end of the rooting phase can be indicative of low plantlet growth. Besides, the exposure period to cytokinins is of more affect than concentration.