Conservation of Endangered Hassawi Peach (Prunus persica L.) Through Micropropagation

The objective of this study was conducted to establish a micropropagation system suitable for Hassawi peach (Prunus persica L.), an endangered landrace variety adapted to the hot arid climatic conditions of Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia. This study examined the effect of some plant growth regulators on the response of node explants. The best shoot multiplication and growth was obtained using MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L-1 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 0.1 mg L-1 Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). This treatment gave the highest shoot multiplication (5.8 shoots per explant), shoot elongation (4.7 cm) and leaf number (19.3 leaves per shoot). During rooting stage, the best rooting was associated with shoots cultured on MS medium containing 0.5 mg L-1 IBA. This treatment gave 92% rooting with maximum root length of 6.8 cm and highest average number of root (5.4 roots per shoot). Plantlets exhibited normal growth and phenotype upon transfer to soil with 95% survival. This micropropagation system could contribute to the conservation and restoration of this threatened peach germplasm.