Science Letters

Effect of growth regulators on micropropagation of different olive cultivars (Olea europaea L.)

Naheed Niaz a, Sami Ullah b*, Midrar Ullah b, and Nyla Jabeen a

a Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, International Islamic university, Islamabad

b Department of Biotechnology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Dir Upper, Pakistan

Abstract

Olive (Olea europaea L.) is considered as the most extensively cultivated fruit crop due to its economic importance and nutritional values. Before the introduction of biotechnological techniques, it was propagated by laborious traditional methods which have limited growth efficiency. Most of the work has been carried out on plant regeneration using different explants and combinations of growth regulators. Keeping in view the importance of olive, attention should be paid to improve the technology to achieve 100% success of the micro propagation. Growth regulators and carbohydrate sources have a major role in micro propagation. Under particular conditions, olive cultivars display a high competence to propagate. Internal carbohydrates might interact with hormones and play a stimulatory effect on propagation. Various exogenously applied auxins primarily indole-butyric acid, naphthalene acetic acid and indole-acetic acid help promoting in vitro rooting of shoots. When used in combination with other hormones, they promote root initiation. For in vitro shoot initiation, cytokinins have been suggested; most common form is zeatin, which induces satisfactory growth. Gibberellins have been suggested to increase the fruit size and to control fruit drop. In this review, Olive micro propagation, with special focus on the effect of growth regulators on different olive cultivars has been reviewed.

Keywords: Micropropagation; growth regulators; root initiation; proliferation; olive cultivars.

Received April 20, 2014; Revised June 06, 2014; Accepted June 07, 2014

*For correspondence: Sami Ullah; Email: samibiotech@gmail.com