In vitro studies on callus induction and shoot regeneration from leaf explants of Prunus avium L. rootstock ‘F12/1’

To obtain regeneration from leaf explant of ‘F12/1’ (Prunus avium L.) rootstock, young leaves from 4-weekold in vitro shoot cultures were wounded by transverse cuts three times along the midrib and incubated with abaxial side facing up on Woody Plant Medium (WPM). Shoot regeneration was obtained with benzyladenine (BA) both in dark incubated cultures (5% at 2.5 μM) and non-dark incubated cultures (5% at 10 μM). Thidiazuron (TDZ) containing medium also yielded shoot regeneration (5% at 9.08 μM) in cultures that were kept in continuous light. Overall, TDZ pre-treatment and dark incubations improved callus formation frequencies and callus colony numbers. Regenerates were rooted on WPM containing 9.08 μM IBA, acclimatized and then transferred to greenhouse conditions.