In vitro propagation of khinjuk pistachio (Pistacia khinjuk stocks) through seedling apical shoot tip culture

An efficient method was developed for in vitro propagation of Pistacia khinjuk (khinjuk pistachio). Shoot cultures were established from aseptically germinated seedlings of khinjuk pistachio. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with Gamborg's vitamins containing 30 g P sucrose, 100 mg l(-1) I-ascorbic acid, 1 mg l(-1) BA and 7 g l(-1) agar resulted in multiple shoot initiation at the rate of 7.25 +/- 0.95 shoots per explant in 28 days of culture. Efficient rooting was achieved in MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l(-1) IBA. The in vitro raised plants were acclimatized in a growth room and transplanted to the field successfully. The method described will be useful for rapid multiplication of khinjuk pistachio for commercial exploitation.