An improved micropropagation protocol for lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus L.)

This study presents an efficient improvement in the in vitro propagation protocol for one cloned genotype of lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus L.) by a ssessing the effects of gibberellic acid (GA(3)) concentrations, different cytokinins and amino acids and their concentrations on shoot proliferation, the effects of shoot length on rooting and the effects of compost type (sterile and non-sterile) on acclimatization. The best growth medium for multiple shoot induction was the MS medium supplemented with a combination of 1 mg l(-1) BA, 100 mg l(-1) tryptophan and 0.5 mg l(-1) GA(3), which gave a mean shoot length of 1.64 +/- 0.07 cm and a mean bud number of 5.46 +/- 0.16. The best results in terms of root length, rooting rate and the number of roots per shoot were obtained with 2 cm long shoots. The rooted plantlets were readily acclimatized in the sterile compost. In conclusion, the micropropagation protocol developed in this study can be used for large-scale propagation of P. lentiscus L. in reforestation programmes.