Plant Regeneration of Ziziphus spina-christi by in vivo and in vitro Methods

Christ's thorn (Ziziphus spina-christi L. Desf.) is ecologically and economically important in Iran. Since it is a crosspollinated plant with a wide range of genetic variability, an investigation was carried out to determine the best method for mass and clonal propagation. Three vegetative methods were examined, including 1) cutting, where shoots with a 22-25 cm length and three shoot diameters were treated with two culture media; 2) layering, where air layering and trench layering treatments consisted of three growth regulators at three levels of concentration; and 3) tissue culture with nodal segments bearing axillary buds that were removed from shoots of mature trees at different seasons. Several experiments were carried out to determine the best disinfectant chemical, the best culture method, the best season, the appropriate explant characteristics and media type. Rooting was successful only on the sandy beds for cuttings with more than 8.0 mm diameter. For the trench layering method, only one specimen in one replicate rooted a very small root, while for the air layering method, only seedlings with growth regulator treatments rooted successfully. The best season for explant harvesting was determined as mid summer, and among the disinfecting treatments, Ca(OCI)2 at a concentration of 0.5g kg^-1 for 20 minutes was the best. There were no significant differences for shoot weight and length with a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with and without a hormone.