In vitro evaluation of iron-deficiency tolerance in an endemic putative apple rootstock

Abstract

In most species of fruit trees, iron deficiency-induced chlorosis causes severaleconomic damages. Recently, in vitro culture techniques have been used to assessrootstocks for susceptibility to iron deficiency-induced chlorosis. In the present study, thein vitro shoots of three apple genotypes including Malus baccata, MM.106 and Gami-Almasi, a native putative apple rootstock, were evaluated on MS medium supplementedwith four concentrations of Fe (0, 9, 18, 36 mg/L) from Fe-NaEDTA and the concentration ofFe in MS medium as the control. Visual chlorosis index, leaf chlorophyll index, leaf area,fresh weight increment and dry weight of shoots were determined 26 days after culture.Iron concentrations affected the visual chlorosis index of M. baccata and MM.106.However, there were no chlorosis symptoms in Gami-Almasi. Leaf chlorophyll index wereaffected significantly by genotypes and Fe concentration. Leaf area and fresh weightincrement differed significantly in various genotypes; nevertheless, the effect of Feconcentration was not significant. Leaf area and fresh weight were recorded the highest inM. baccata compared to the other two genotypes. Genotypes and Fe concentrationtreatments were not affected dry weight of the shoots.