EFFECT OF PHYTOHORMONES ON THE FORMATION OF CALLUS TISSUES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHOOTS FROM THEM IN SEEDLESS PUNICA GRANATUM L. (MOLLAR DE ELCHE)

This study investigated the effect of phytohormones on callus induction and shoot regeneration in seedless Punica granatum L. ('Mollar de Elche'), aiming to develop an efficient in vitro propagation protocol. The results revealed that a combination of the cytokinin BAP and the auxin NAA significantly influenced callus formation and shoot development. The highest callus formation (90.2%) and shoot regeneration (5.3 ± 0.87 shoots per callus) were achieved with 2.0 mg/L BAP and 0.1 mg/L NAA. Lower BAP concentrations, particularly 0.1 mg/L, were less effective in both callus induction and shoot production. Shoot development was optimized at 1.0 mg/L BAP combined with 0.1 mg/L NAA, yielding the highest number of shoots per explant (81). Higher concentrations of BAP (2.0 mg/L) negatively impacted shoot proliferation, especially at elevated NAA levels (1.0 mg/L). Overall, this study highlights the importance of a balanced combination of BAP and NAA for efficient clonal propagation of 'Mollar de Elche' pomegranate, contributing to its large-scale production for commercial cultivation.