In vitro propagation of caprifig and figs (Ficus carica L.) through various explants

Abstract: Fig (Ficus carica L.) cultivation is affronting serious problems caused by biotic and abiotic stresses. Application of in vitro techniques became necessary for plant material sanitation, rapid propagation and conservation. The present study aims the regeneration of in vitro plants of local fig cultivars using different explant types. For that purpose, shoot tips, meristems and leaf segments of 3 local fig cultivars (Soltani, Zidi, Bither Abiadh) and a caprifig (Assafri) were cultivated in vitro. MS media with different concentrations of growth hormones: ?-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP), Kinetin (Kin), N6-(2-Isopentenyl)adenine (2iP), Gibberellic acid (GA₃) and Thidiazuron (TDZ) and various antioxidants were tested for explants initiation, multiplication and rooting. The combination of 0.2 mg L^-1 BAP, 0.1 mg L^-1 GA₃ and 0.1 mg L^-1 NAA was the most appropriate for the best meristem establishment rates. The highest establishment rates were obtained with explants taken in spring for Zidi (62.3%) and Bither Abiadh (96.7%) and in autumn for Assafri (100%). From shoot-tip explants, Zidi gave the highest shoot number during the multiplication step. The rates of leaf fragments regenerating adventitious shoots, reached 75.6% and 57.2%, respectively, for Soltani and Assafri on media enriched by TDZ and IBA. MS medium with 1 mg L^-1 IBA allowed the best rooting rates for Bither Abiadh and Assafri explants. Vitroplants in vivo rooting was more effective due to their high success rates and the simplicity of the method. Three months after acclimatization, the survival and success rates of the vitroplants were 80-90%.