MICROPROPAGATION OF BLACKBERRIES (Rubus sp.) CULTIVARS

Experiments were carried out aiming to develop techniques for in vitro propagation of blackberries (Rubus spp.) plants. Multiplication were done from axillary buds wich were placed in MS (MURASHIGE & SKOOG, 1962) medium, supplemented with BA (benzylaminopurine), NAA (naphthaleneacetic acid) and GA3 (gibberellic acid) in different concentrations and combinations. Subsequently, studies were done to determine the influence in rooting of the MS medium with all the salts reduced to 1/3, and with different concentrations of IBA (indolbutyric acid). Results indicated that the best multiplication of shoots was obtainned with BA (1.0 and 2.0 mg/l). The addition of NAA and GA3 in media in these experiments didn't improve the multiplication rate. Rooting was succesfully achived with 100 % rooted plants in all cultivars, with no differences significant differences among rooting media