Use of carbon dioxide enrichment to obtain adult morphology of grapevinein vitro

Abstract

A procedure has been developed forin vitro propagation ofVitis vinifera ‘Pinot noir’ from lateral-bud cuttings under high CO₂ concentration (1200 µmol mol⁻¹). Because of inhibition of rooting by CO₂, this procedure requires a rooting pre-culture of explants on medium with sucrose before the CO₂-enriched culture on sucrose-free medium. Shoot growth was enhanced by CO₂ enrichment as a result of both a higher rate of leaf production and greater internode elongation. Leaf expansion and tendril growth were promoted and better rooting was obtained. The more significant effect of CO₂ enrichment was to promote adult morphology with, in particular, the tendril pattern. Thus, for the first time, grapevine plants have been producedin vitro without typical juvenile characteristics. CO₂ enrichment appears to be an interesting process to improve thein vitro propagation of grapevines.