IN VITRO STERILIZATION PROCEDURES FOR MICROPROPAGATION OF ‘OBLACINSKA’ SOUR CHERRY

Surface sterilization is the most important step in preparation of explants for micropropagation, because controlling fungal and bacterial contamination of woody plant from field sources is very difficult. Six sterilizing agents: sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), calcium hypochlorite [Ca(ClO)2], sodium dichloroisocyanurate (DICA), mercuric (II) chloride (HgCl2), silver nitrate (AgNO3) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were tested for sterilization of ‘Obla?inska’ sour cherry buds, by varying their concentration and time of exposure. The aim of this study was to establish best surface sterilization for in vitro propagation of ‘Obla?inska’ sour cherry. Aseptic cultures of ‘Obla?inska’ sour cherry were established from axillary buds which were placed in nutrient medium, supplemented with plants hormones 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), 1- naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and gibberellic acid (GA3). The results indicated that among these sterilizing agents silver nitrate (AgNO3) at concentration of 1% for 20 minutes was the best for controlling the infection, whereas sterilization with sodium dichloroisocyanurate (DICA) at concentration of 1% for 10 minutes was not satisfactory.