Micropropagation of Chinese Plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) Using Mature Stem Segments

An effective in vitro culture system for mature stem segments of Chinese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. ‘Gulf-ruby’) was established. The nodal segments of 1 cm were cut from young shoots in open field, sterilized and established in vitro. The successfully induced culture was achieved on woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with 0.05-0.1 mg/l IBA, 0.5-1.0 mg/l BA, 30 g/l glucose, 5 g/l agar and 1.0 g/l Vc. The successful shoot multiplication was achieved on WPM with 0.05-0.1 mg/l IBA, 0.2 mg/l BA, 0.3 mg/l KT and 1.0 g/l casein hydrolysate. Elongation of the shoot in vitro was facilitated on WPM with 0.05 mg/l IBA, 0.3 mg/l KT/BA and 1.0 g/l casein hydrolysate. The shoots from microcuttings were rooted in 1/2 MS (half strength MS) supplemented with 0.2-0.5 mg/l IBA, 15 g/l sucrose and 20-40 mg/l phloroglucinol (PG). Regenerated shoots successfully acclimatized to greenhouse conditions and grew vigorously with no apparent phenotypic aberrations.