In vitro micropropagation of almond (Amygdalus communis L. cv. Nonpareil)

An efficient in vitro propagation method was developed for almond (Amygdalus communis L. cv. Nonpareil). The effect of BA and kinetin (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 mgl-1) on the culture initiation of zygotic embryos isolated from mature seeds was investigated. A Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) medium containing 30 gl-1 sucrose, 0.5 and 1.0 mgl-1 N6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 7 gl-1 agar resulted in a multiple shoot initiation at the rate of 11.0 ± 1.32 and 14.7 ± 2.12 shoot per explant, respectively, in 28 days of culture. The effects of a low concentration of BA (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mgl-1) and different combinations of auxin + cytokinin were investigated for shoot proliferation. The best results for new shoot production were obtained from a MS culture medium which was supplemented with 1.0 mgl-1 BA. The rooting was achieved in a ½ MS medium supplemented with 8.0 mgl-1 indole acetic acid (IAA). The in vitro raised plants were acclimatized in a growth room and successfully transplanted to the field. This method here in described will be useful for the rapid multiplication of almond (A. communis L. cv. Nonpareil) in commercial exploitation.