Shoot meristem and callus tissue culture of pecans Carya illinoensis (Wang) K. Koch

Abstract

Seedlings pecan Carya illinoensis (Wang) K. Koch stem sections were cultured on Murashige-Skoog, Romberger, White or Wolter's media. Callus production was initiated on Wolter's media. Callus production was initiated on Wolter's (75%) and White's medium (15%) but not on Murashige-Skoog or Romberger's medium. Bioassays for naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), chlorophenoxy acetic acid (PCPA), indole acetic acid (IAA) and kinetin (K) were performed to determine the proper concentration ratio necessary to produce maximum callus growth and to stimulate organogenesis. Maximum callus growth occurred when the auxin concentration was between 0.5 to 1.1 mg/1 and 0.5 to 1.0 mg/1 kinetin. Callus grown on Wolter's medium formed one root on two separate callus pieces at 0.75 and 1.0 mg/1 IAA, 0.5 and 1.1 mg/1 kinetin. One piece of callus on Wolter's medium formed a shoot at 0.75 mg/1 IAA and 2.0 mg/1 kinetin. The three organogenic callus pieces did not form respective roots and shoots when placed on reciprocal auxin-kinetin concentrations.