A Micropropagation System for Hazelnuts (Corylus Species)

Abstract

A micropropagation system was developed for hazelnut cultivars. Grafted greenhouse-grown plants produced many more viable explants than upper branches of mature field-grown trees. Shoots from grafted greenhouse-grown plants collected March through July and suckers of mature field-grown trees collected in July produced the most growing explants (46% to 80%). Three- to five-fold multiplication was obtained after 4 weeks of culture on NCGR-COR medium supplemented with 6.7 μ m BA and 0.04 μ m IBA. Roots were produced on 64% to 100% of shoots grown on half-strength NCGR-COR mineral salts and 4.9 μ m IBA for 4 weeks. Ex vitro rooting by a brief dip in 1 or 5 m m IBA was equally successful. Transplant survival was 78% to 100%. Chemical names used: N 6 -benzyladenine (BA); indole-3-butyric acid (IBA).