Department of Horticulture, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263 145
Mass propagation of low-chill pear cv Gola, a popular cultivar in short supply in the subtropical plains of U.P. was attempted by in vitro shoot-tip culture. Spring-collected shoot tips (0.5 cm) gave maximum proliferating aseptic cultures (60%) when surface sterilized with 0.1% HgCl2 and 10% NaOCl for 4 and 10 min respectively. Full-strength woody plant medium (WPM) was the best medium and BA 1.5 mg/litre and IBA 1.0 mg/litre were the best plant bioregulator combinations for proliferation of the subcultured shoots. The microcuttings rooted best in 1/2 MS supplemented with IBA 1.0–2.0 mg/litre. The rooted plantlets survived for 15 days in plastic pots with a mixture of sand, soil and FYM in a ratio of 1:1:1 in open room conditions at 24±2°C temperature and 16/8 hr photoperiod.
