Effects of species and plant growth regulators on shoots and rooting of three species of hawthorn

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp) is one of the important forest genera in Iran. It is high compatibel to cold and drought and usefull as a rootstock for quince, pear and apple. This research was carried out in order to assess shoots and rooting of three species of hawthorn (C. aronia, C. pseudohetrophylla, C. meyeri). For shoot production, different concentrations of plant growth regulators and single-node were used. The explants were cultured on different concenterations of BAP and NAA on MS medium. On average after 6 weeks maximum number of shoots in concenteration of 1mg/l NAA plus 4 mg/l BAP (4.33 branch) was observed. The highest percentage of explants (89.67 %) was observed on C. aronia andmaximum shoot length (22.67 mm) was observed on C. meyeri using 1 mg/l NAA and 1 mg/l BAP. For rooting stage, we used MS, 1/2MS and rock wool with proliferated explants derived from suker and in vitro proliferated shoots. The explants were cultured on 16 different media treatments of MS, 1/2MS and rock wool medium. Root was not formed in none of the species, treatments and media. Maximum shoot length (22.67 mm) was observed on C. meyeri, and maximum number of branches was observed on C. aronia.