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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Encapsulation of in vitro-derived propagules of two genotypes of Capparis spinosa (L.) from Pantelleria Island

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Encapsulation technology, combining the advantages of zygotic or gamic seed with those of micropropagation, has recently attracted the interest of researchers as a new propagation approach, mainly due to the unsatisfying results of the traditional propagation strategies. The encapsulation of uninodal microcuttings (3-4 mm long) from two Sicilian Capparis spinosa (L.) genotypes (from Pantelleria Island: 'Tracino' and 'Scauri') was evaluated, observing the influence of the calcium alginate coating and of three different growth regulators (PGRs): 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), meta-topolin (MT) and zeatin (ZEA), on viability, regrowth and conversion of the propagules. Caper microcuttings were dissected and placed in different Murashige and Skoog-based artificial endosperms, enriched of either MT, ZEA or BAP. The synthetic seeds obtained were sown on a medium with full strength salts concentration, enriched with 0.4 mg L-1of naphtalene acetic acid and 0.7 mg L-1of gibbelleric acid. After 60 days, the following parameters were detected: viability, regrowth, number and length of the shoots and roots, conversion. The results confirm that encapsulation did not negatively affect the viability, which showed the highest percentage with BAP (100%) in 'Tracino' and with ZEA (100%) in 'Scauri'. Similar results were obtained in regrowth, with statistically significant differences among the three PGRs tested: 'Tracino' showed the best regrowth on capsuled enriched with BAP (100%), 'Scauri' with ZEA (100%). In addition, the synseed conversion was greatly affected by the PGR, and it was higher in artificial endosperm added with BAP in 'Tracino' (56.6%) and ZEA in 'Scauri' (23.3%) genotype. WOS:000706843800006