Micrografting of almond (Amygdalus communis) cultivar 'Nonpareil'

Effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs) were investigated on micropropagation of scions and micrografting of almond (Amygdalus communis) cultivar 'Nonpareil'. In vitro germinated wild almond seedlings developed from seeds were used as rootstocks. The mature apical or subapical shoot tips of almond cultivar 'Nonpareil' were used as material for establishment of the microscions cultures. The shoot tips were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 4.0 mg l-1) of N6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The data showed that the increase in BAP concentration resulted in significant reduction at the shoot regeneration rate. Among all tested groups, the highest regeneration rate was obtained on medium containing 1.0 mg l-1 BAP. The regenerated adventitious shoots from in vitro cultures were cultured on media containing BAP (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mg l-1) combined with 0.2 and 0.4 mg l-1 indole butyric acid (IBA) separately for development of shoots. The best respond was observed from MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l-1 BAP + 0.2 mg l-1 IBA. The effects of BAP and IBA (1.0 mg l-1) were studied on development of micrografted plantlets. Regenerated shoots tips, which were micrografted onto in vitro germinated wild almond seedlings. The results indicated that the most graft rate and new shoots formation were obtained 1.0 mg l-1 BAP. In vitro micrografted plantlets were successfully transferred into commercial plastic pots for acclimatization.