Optimization of in vitro propagation of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) cultivar Tian-yuzao

Jujube tree is one of the most important medicinal plants. The propagation of this plant is low using seed and sucker, therefore, by applying the micropropgation technique, the amount of propagation can be considerably increased. In order to study the effect of culture media and growth regulators on proliferation and rooting of jujube cultivar Tian-yuzao, this experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with four replications. For proliferation, MS and WPM culture media supplemented with 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg.l-1 BA (benzyladenine), and for rooting, the mentioned culture media containing 0, 1, 5 and 10 mg.l-1 IBA (indole-butyric acid) were used. Based on the results of analysis of variance, there was no significant difference between MS and WPM for proliferation and rooting traits. The results of the mean comparison showed that the highest percentage of proliferation (73-76%) and number of shoots (3.1-3) were obtained in medium containing 1 and 2 mg.l-1 BA, but the maximum shoot length (74 mm), fresh weight (296 mg) and dry weight (44 mg) were observed in media supplemented with 1 mg.l-1. Rooting percentage, number of root and root length of all media containing IBA were not significantly different but showed significant increase compared to control. Adaptation results showed that over 87% of plantlets survived in the bed of clay: peat: vermiculite: perlite (1:1:1:1).