Selection for Sustainable Preservation through In Vitro Propagation of Mature Pyrus spinosa Genotypes Rich in Total Phenolics and Antioxidants

Pyrus spinosa Forssk. (almond-leaved pear) is a wild-growing native tree of the hilly countryside Greece, which has recently gained interest for its valuable endogenous substances. In present work, determination total phenol content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (AC) was carried out during 2021 2022 in leaves from 32 genotypes mature trees at four different locations Central Macedonia District, Greece: Agia Anastasia, Chalkidiki, Lagadas Pieria. The measurements taken leaf samples all revealed strong positive linear correlation between TPC AC (R2 = 0.772). Two coded as AA2 AA3, were comparatively richest (44.86 46.32 mg GAE/g fresh weight AA3) (70.31 71.21 μg AAE/g same genotypes). For these two high AC, an efficient micropropagation protocol developed to preserve multiply this germplasm. Newly emerged shoot tips excised winter shoots and, after disinfestation, they established on modified Murashige Skoog (MS) nutrient medium with 5 μΜ 6-Benzyloaminopurine (BAP). multiplication, explants clean cultures transferred Pear Medium 1 BAP. effect tested by using five media (modified MS, 1, 2, DKW WPM) supplemented most effective formation. Among BAP concentrations (0, 5, 10 20 μΜ) used resulted production significantly highest number (22.7 per explant, 2.4 cm long). exposure μmol·m−2·s−1 one week under light irradiance followed 35 weeks increased both length produced. A 20-s dip bases into 49.0 Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) EtOH equally affected rooting MS (79%) (80%). root system better (mean roots 2.7 3.9 cm). acclimatization plantlets successfully (high survival rates their establishment) perlite substrate controlled environmental conditions.