Abstract

The objective of this study was to optimize a protocol for in vitro micropropagation of selected grape vine varieties. Preliminary studies were conducted to optimize the duration of sterilization of the explants. For shoot initiation experiment nodes of the three varieties of grape vines were cultured on MS medium (Murashige-Skoog’s, 1962) supplemented with five different concentrations of 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and the control. Various experiments were carried out to optimize shoot multiplication using MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of BAP alone or in combination with Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). To optimize root induction, different concentrations of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were used. Sterilization of explants using 1% of NaOCl for 7 min duration was optimum. Chenin blanc showed high percentage of survival rate (96%) followed by Ugni blanc and Canonannon (88%) at 0.5 mg/L BAP. Among the different concentrations and combination of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) used for multiplication, maximum mean number of shoots 7.2, 6.7, and 6.1 was achieved at 1 mg/L BAP combined with 0.1 mg/L IBA for Chenin blanc, Canonnanon and Ugni blanc, respectively. All varieties induced root for all the treatments used including the control but good roots were found on MS medium supplemented with 2 and 4 mg/L of IAA. The plantlets were acclimatized in the glasshouse and survival percentage was 92% for Chenin blanc followed by 78.6 and 73.9% for Ugni blanc and Canonannon, respectively. Thus, the achievements of this study will play a big role in the grape vine culture program.

Key words: Vitis vinifera L., acclimatization, explant, cytokinin, auxin.