Effect of different factors on micropropagation of Abarkooh 4000-year-old horizontal cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L. var. horizontalis (Mill.) Gord.)

This study was conducted to protect the genetic properties and propagation of 4000-year-old Abarkooh horizontal cypress (Cupressus semprvirens L. var. horizontalis (Mill.) Gord.) by tissue culture technique. In the first experiment, the effect of preparation time of explant (four seasons), medium culture (MS and WPM) and concentrations of BA (0, 0.1 and 1 mg/l) on proliferation of horizontal cypress explants was investigated. In second and third experiments the effect of culture media (MS and WPM), concentrations of BA (0, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/l) was studied alone or in combination with 0.01 mg/l IBA and type of explant (primary or secondary shoots) in a factorial experiment and completely randomized design with three replications. In first experiment, the maximum shoots number was obtained from spring and summer explants that were cultured in MS and WPM culture media, respectively. In second experiment, the maximum number and length of shoots was obtained in WPM culture medium and secondary shoots. The highest length of shoots was found in first shoots cultured in WPM medium containing 0.1 and 0.5 mg/l BA, followed by primary shoots cultured in MS medium culture without BA. In the third experiment, the maximum number of shoots (3) was observed in secondary shoots by using WPM medium containing 0 mg/l BA 0.01 mg/l IBA. Conclusively the best time of preparing explant, type of culture media and explant were found to be spring, WPM medium and secondary shoots, respectively.