S04 - Session P1 - New Tools I - Reducing hyperhydricity, shoot tip and leaf necrosis to improve in vitro quality in Pistacia vera L

Authors: Dhekra Abdouli *, Hassiba fraj, Taoufik Bettaieb, Stefaan Werbrouck

Hyperhydricity, leaf and shoot tip necrosis generally adversely affect micropropagation and survival during acclimatization of in vitro plant. Pistacia vera is very sensitive to these physiological disorders. In order to obtain a higher in vitro plant quality, the effects of combinations of p-coumaric acid, a lignin precursor, and filter lids to increase headspace aeration were investigated. Our results showed that an Eco2Box XXL+ filter in the lid reduced the percentage of hyperhydricity from 95% to 26%. Addition of p-coumaric acid to the culture medium reduced the necrosis of shoot tips to 44%. The number of necrotic leaves was significantly reduced by 100 µM p-coumaric acid or the use of filter covers, but for both treatments the disadvantage was that the length of usable shoots and the number of leaves were then negatively affected.