Period of harvest, sprouting ability of cuttings, and in vitro plant regeneration in Fraxinus excelsior

Abstract

Propagation by stem cuttings and in vitro culture of apical bud explants were studied on Fraxinus excelsior L. Stem cuttings from 4- to 7-year-old trees growing under natural conditions sprouted only when cuttings were taken from dormant material. Only 6% of those that had sprouted developed roots by the 7th month of culture. Similarly, only apical bud explants harvested during the dormant period sprouted in vitro. Up to 87% of these sprouts developed two to four branching adventitious roots after 5 months of culture. During the initial phase of in vitro culture, the Quoirin and Lepoivre medium and the woody plant medium favoured sprout lengthening. During the phase of multiplication, up to three sprouts per explant developed with the woody plant medium in the presence of a combination of high 6-benzylaminopurine (3.0–4.0 mg∙L−1) and low indole-3-butyric acid (0.01–0.03 mg∙L−1) concentrations. Rooting was obtained in a medium without any growth regulators. Microscopic analysis showed a direct connection between the vascular elements of adventitious roots and stem of plantlet. Chromosome number in root apices of ash plantlets and ash trees grown under natural conditions was 2n = 46. Key words: chromosome number, Fraxinus excelsior L., in vitro plants, micropropagation, stem cuttings.