Effects of Culture Media and Growth Regulators on Proliferation and Rooting of a Vegetative Mahlab Rootstock (SL-64)

St. Lucie 64 (Prunus mahaleb L., SL-64) is a semi-dwarfing and adaptable rootstock with cherry and sour cherry cultivars. In the present study effects of various media and growth regulators on establishment, proliferation and rooting of this rootstock were investigated. Establishment was performed with the use of shoot tips and axillary buds, derived from greenhouse-grown one-year-old trees as explants. Multiplication of explants was performed using six different media. Results of mean comparison with Duncan’s test indicated that DKW medium with 0.5 mgl-1 benzyladenine with the multiplication rate of about 6.06 new shoot per explants were the best medium for proliferation of this rootstock. MS + 1mgl-1 BA and MS + 0.5mgl-1 BA with 4.06 and 3.81 new shoots per explants were at subsequent steps respectively. Further, the results of investigation of different rooting media after four weeks indicated that DKW medium without any growth regulator with up to 100 percent efficiency was the best medium. MS + 1 mgl-1 IBA and modified QL with 81% rooting per explants were at subsequent steps. For acclimatization of rooted explants, a medium contained peat moss, coco peat and perlite (2:2:1v/v/v) was used that resulted in production of healthy and vigorous plantlets with desirable growth.