Olive tree in vitro establishment under different culture media and explant collection periods

Abstract

In the species Olea europaea L. the tissue culture techniques have not been sufficiently studied by the lack of efficient establishment of protocols for various cultivars. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different culture media and sampling times of explants on in vitro establishment of six cultivars of olive (Ascolano 315, Leccino, Maria da Fé, Coratina, Arbequina and Frantoio). The work was divided into two experiments conducted in the Fruit Tree Propagation Laboratory, Crop Science Department, Faculty of Agronomy Eliseu Maciel, Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil. Stock plants of the olive cultivars maintained in semi- hydroponic system were used. In the first experiment, nodal segments were used to establish in vitro culture medium MO and WPM, consisting of salts and vitamins. In the second experiment four seasons to obtain the explants were evaluate (autumn, winter, spring and summer). The WPM medium promoted greater establishment of olive explants. There is a higher phenolic oxidation in olive explants collected in winter. Spring is indicated for collecting explants, therefore favors the in vitro cultivar Maria da Fé, while Ascolano 315 and Arbequina cultivars have a higher rate of in vitro establishment by collecting explants over the year