Establishment of In Vitro Cultures and Investigation of Micropropagation Possibilities In Shoot Tip Explants of Different Mastic Tree (Pistacia lentiscus L.) Genotypes

Abstract The aim of this study was to perform in vitro clonal micropropagation of mature mastic trees (Pistacia lentiscus L.). In addition, browning problems in culture media, different sampling periods and success of genotypes were investigated. In the study, 1–2-years-old wood cuttings which are approximately 20–25 cm belonging to 4 different genotypes were used as the starting plant material. Samples were taken in November, December and January. The shoot tips obtained by forcing the hardwood cuttings in distilled water were used as explants in tissue culture. When all genotypes are averaged, the average shoot value per cutting was found at the highest level in January with 6.57. The application of paraffin, which covers the basal parts of the explants, significantly reduced or even completely prevented browning. In the second stage of the January period, 51.33% of the explants formed adventitious buds in MS media containing 1 mg/l BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) and 0,5 mg/l GA3 (gibberellic acid). Explants of wild genotype showed 61.54% rooting in MS medium containing 2 mg/l IBA (indole-3-butyric acid). The rooting success achieved in the wild genotype indicates that it is possible to micrograft shoot tips of culture clones onto rooted wild genotype explants rather than related species. If it was further developed, this method would stand out as the most reasonable method for commercial micropropagation of mastic trees.