Micropropagation of Capparis spinosa L. subsp. rupestris Sibth. & Sm. by nodal cuttings

Abstract

In vitro propagation of Capparis spinosa subsp. rupestris was conducted using single nodal cuttings. Multiple shoots were obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1 mg/L zeatin. Shoot multiplication was optimized on the same medium by subculturing shoot segments with 2-3 nodes every 6 weeks. Aptitude to proliferation was successfully maintained during nine subcultures with a mean rate exceeding 20 new shoots per explant. High rooting response of shoots (92%) was obtained after 4 h pulse treatment period in darkness with 100 mg/L IAA solution, followed by culture on solid half-strength MS basal medium. These results indicate the enormous potential of C. spinosa subsp. rupestris that could be used for large-scale multiplication.