Micropropagation of sour cherry rootstocks by employing forced and unforced explants

For micropropagation of sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) rootstock, explants were harvested from dormant cuttings during start of winter season and were subjected to forcing. Explants obtained after forcing of dormant cuttings of stock plant yielded maximum percentage of survival and aseptic cultures than those from field grown unforced stock plants. Woody plant half strength medium supplemented with 0.50 mg l−1 BAP plus 0.10 mg l−1 IBA gave the highest survival percentage and took minimum number of days to growth initiation for establishment. Growth regulator IBA at 0.10 mg l−1 resulted in highest proliferation percentage. Maximum average length of shoot (14.93) was recorded at 0.05 mg l−1 IBA, whereas medium fortified with 0.3 mg l−1 BAP recorded minimum shoot elongation (28.31 mm). Minimum days taken for initiation of proliferation and maximum shoot multiplication was recorded on WP medium supplemented with 2 mg l−1 BAP plus 0.10 mg l−1 IBA. Medium fortified with IBA at 2 mg l−1 recorded the highest rooting percentage and average number of roots per explant.