Short communication Micropropagation of Vitis vinifera L: towards an improved protocol

Nodal explants bearing a single axillary bud, from three cultivars of cultivated grape, viz., `Thompson seedless', `Sonaka' and `Tas-e-Ganesh', were used to initiate shoot cultures on G16 medium containing adenine sulphate, monobasic sodium phosphate, BAP and NAA. Each shoot, developed from an axillary bud, produced a tuft of multiple shoots on a medium containing BAP, calcium pantothenate, monobasic sodium phosphate and IBA. Subculture of the tuft of multiple shoots to an `elongation medium' resulted in distinct individual shoots. Rooting of shoots and plantlet formation was achieved on IAA-containing liquid medium. A culture procedure for enhanced multiple shoot production and the recovery of complete plants is described. The use of this protocol for the commercial exploitation of cultivated grape is discussed. # 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.