In vitro propagation of Vitis vinifera L. cv. 'Monastrell'

Background: A protocol for the micropropagation of the grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivar 'Monastrell' was developed. Initial plant material was obtained from the sanitary selection of grapevine plants performed by real-time RT-PCR to confirm the absence of Grapevine fanleaf virus, Arabis mosaic virus, Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 1, Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3, and Grapevine fleck virus. Results: The effects of the salt composition (comparing Lloyd and McCown woody plant medium and Murashige and Skoog medium 1/2 macronutrients) and the growth regulator benzylaminopurine (BAP), at 0 and 8.9 µM, on plant propagation were evaluated using nodes as explants. The most efficient procedure consisted of bud induction in the medium with Lloyd and McCown woody plant salts and 8.9 µM BAP for 30 d along with elongation in cytokinin-free medium for 60 d, which gave 22 nodes/explant (174 plants/initial plant). A second cycle of propagation in a medium without BAP for another 60 d could give approximately 10,000 nodes, which can be obtained after an additional 2 months of culture. All plants acclimatized after the second cycle of multiplication were successfully transferred to soil. Conclusion: We developed an optimal protocol for V. vinifera cv. 'Monastrell' micropropagation, the first described for this cultivar.

Effect of bavistin on in vitro plant conversion from encapsulated uninodal microcuttings of micropropagated Bacopa monnieri (L.) - An ayurvedic herb.

A reliable and reproducible protocol for contamination free plant recovery system from alginated encapsulated uninodal microcuttings of micropropagated Bacopa monnieri L.have been developed after storage at 18oC for 45 days. Node segments excised from freshly micropropagated plants were encapsulated as single explant beads with 3.0 % sodium alginate and 80 mM CaCl2 2 H2O. To find out the optimal concentration of fungicide bavistin for efficient plant recovery, different concentrations of bavistin (1.0 - 15 mg l-1) were incorporated in to the encapsulation medium. 3.0 mg l-1 bavistin showed no reduction in plant conversion and generated maximum number of shoots (45.6 ± 1.69) at high frequency with out any contamination after storage up to 45 days at 18oC. At high concentrations (13 and 15 mg l-1), rupturing of calcium alginate coats after 8 - 9 days and gradual decline in the number of shoots indicates the toxic effect of bavistin on plant conversion. Encapsulated node cuttings stored up to 45 days regenerated shoots (5.2) and multiple shoots (45.6) in MS basal and hormone medium respectively. Maximum shoot length (8.2 ± 0.37 cm) was observed from encapsulsted node cuttings incorporated with 3.0 mg l-1 bavistin on MS basal medium. 90 % of the recovered plantlets were hardened off and successfully established in soil.