Micropropagation of Ziziphus jujube Mill. (Jujube) through shoot tip and nodal segment culture

Jujube is known as Masan in Sri Lanka is one of the underutilized fruit crops. It is important due to its high nutritious value and introduced as a potential crop for commercial cultivation. Micropropagation using plant tissue culture is an efficient method for vegetative propagation of commercially important crops for mass production to meet the demands of planting materials. Present study was carried out to develop a proper in-vitro protocol for local varieties of Jujube to produce planting materials. The most suitable fungicide for surface sterilization procedure was selected by testing Captan (Captan 50%, 1.2 g/l), Topsin (Thiophanate methyl 70%, 2 g/l), and Daconil (Chlorothalonil, 1.8 ml/l). Selection of a suitable concentration of BAP (Benzyle Amino Purine) or TDZ (Thidiazuron) for shoot proliferation was assessed in four different concentrations of BAP (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 mg/l) and of TDZ (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 mg/l) and IBA (Indole Butric Acid) for root induction in two concentrations of IBA (1, 2 mg/l). Dipping shoot tips in Captan solution for 20 minutes gave the highest significant non-contamination per-centage (79.9%) and lowest fungal radius (0.15 cm) of contaminated cultures among three treatments. MS (Murrashige and Skoog) medium containing 1.5 mg/l BAP recorded significantly highest percentage of elongated bud (96.66%) and newly produced shoot length (1.08 cm) and lowest significant rate was recorded in TDZ 0.2 mg/l (3.33%). Callus was produced in all the concentrations of TDZ. None of the concentrations of BAP or TDZ produced multiple shoots. Elongated nodal segments in BAP (1, 1.5 mg/l) could be successfully sub-cultured for further multiplication. Rooting was not recorded in both shoot tips and in-vitro generated shoots during four weeks of culturing on IBA contained media.