Abstract

A protocol for the micropropagation of dwarf raspberry (Rubus pubescens) was developed by the
establishment of axenic shoot cultures from greenhouse-grown plants, induction of shoot proliferation,
and rootingin vitro. Cultures were initiated from shoot tip and nodal explants on 1/2 strength MS
(Murashige T. and Skoog F. 1962. Physiol. Plant. 15:473) macro-salts and MS micro-salts and vitamins
containing 8.9lMN6

-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.98 lM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Zeatin was more effective than

BA, and induced proliferation of about 1.5–2 times as many shoots as BA in combination with 0.54–

1.1lMa-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or 0.49–0.98 lM IBA. With higher zeatin, shoots did not expand

and had a high mortality rate. Shoots growing for more than 10 weeks on medium that contained 9.1lM

zeatin occasionally produced adventitious shoot masses, which appeared to arise from dense calluses

growing at the base of the shoots in the medium. Shoots were rootedin vitro in the same medium used
for

shoot proliferation, but without any growth regulators. Almost all (85–90%) in vitro plantlets survived

when transferred to potting medium.