Interaction Between time of Nodal Explant Collection and Growth Regulators Determines the Efficiency of Morus alba Micropropagation

The hormonal requirement suiting micropropagation of Morus alba during any season throughout the year was studied. Sprouting frequency from axillary buds of M. alba was greatly influenced by the time of explant collection, the highest value was achieved when nodal explants were collected at the end of bud dormancy period (late in March) and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with low concentration (0.5 mg/L) of BAP, kinetin or IBA (85-68%). In addition, they showed higher axillary bud sprouting on growth-regulators-free medium (49%) than others collected in autumn or winter and cultured on medium supplemented with various growth regulators (47-48%). Regardless of that period, young explants with greenish buds collected in summer exhibiting high sprouting frequency (66%) on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L kinetin and 0.5 mg/L GA3. Shoot multiplication via adventitious bud formation was achieved when the nodal explants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L BAP and 0.2 mg/L IBA. Further multiplication via nodal explants of in vitro grown shoots was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mglL BAP and 0.5 mg/L GA3. While half strength MS medium supplemented with low concentration (0.5 mg/L) of IBA, IAA or 2,4-D stimulated adventitious root formation, IBA was the best. After transfer the plantlets to the soil, acclimatization for three weeks was essential prerequisite for survival in high frequency (92%). Peroxidase activity is related to break of bud dormancy where maximum enzyme activity was detected when the lateral buds were induced to commence growth under field condition (early in spring) or in vitro.