SHOOT GROWTH AND PROLIFERATION OF PEACH UNDER VARYING ENVIRONMENTAL REGIMES.
in HortScienceThis study examined stage I peach shoot growth under various photoperiods in combination with different vessel closures and compared the influence of BA and Thidiazuron (TDZ) on peach shoot growth during stage II. The basal salts were as described by Almehdi and Parfitt (1986) with 1.0 μM BA, 0.02 μM IBA, 2% sucrose, 0.1% gelrite and 0.4% agar. Shoot growth of peach clone B612615, as determined by leaf number after one month, was similar in vessels capped with Kim-Kaps, Kaputs or PM caps. Plastic foam Identi-Plugs resulted in desiccation of the medium and stressed shoots with reduced growth. A 4 h light/2 h dark photoperiod four times a day provided better growth during stage I than a 16 h light/ 8 h dark photoperiod. For stage II, established shoots of Suncrest, Georgia Bell and Evergreen were grown on MS medium supplemented with 0.02 μM IBA in combination with 1.0 or 10 μM BA or 0.1, 1.0 or 10 μM TDZ. TDZ produced excessive callus resulting in minimal shoot proliferation. Shoot proliferation from axillary buds was greatest with 10 μM BA.
