Micro propagation of the Millennium Olive Trees (Olea europaea L.) in Bshaaleh Lebanon

In an effort to safeguard the Lebanese genetic resources of olives (Olea Europea L.), this study was intended to set up an in vitro culture from axillary buds of Bshaaleh millennium trees. A series of treatments preceded the multiplication phase to limit infections in the introduced explants. Best survival rate (56.7%) was recorded when the treatment was based on a mix of fungicides (fosethyl-aluminium (6g/l) and carbendazim (2g/l)), chloroxylenol (2.5%) and NaOCl (15%) as detergents, and oxytetracycline (1mg/l) as antibiotic. Young shoots were used to induce explants in vitro on OM, WPM and MS supplemented with BAP (2, 3 and 4mg/l respectively). Autumn season gave the best multiplication rate (1.08), newly developed explants (1.35) and proliferation rate (47%) on MS medium followed respectively by OM and WPM. The longest explants (1.78cm) and the highest number of newly developed leaves (3.58) were obtained during the first subculture on the MS medium added with BAP (3mg/l).All the examined parameters decreased during subcultures. Following the elongation phase, NAA added at a rate of 2mg/l to MS medium produced 22% of rooted explants. During the autumn season, explants where callus developed on the base, were transferred to fresh media that enabled the rooting of 23% where no subculture was needed.