In the heart of China, a breakthrough in pear propagation is set to revolutionize the fruit industry, with implications that could ripple through global agriculture. Researchers at Hebei Agricultural University have successfully developed a tissue culture technique for Yuluxiang pears, a variety renowned for its thin skin, sweet aroma, and delicate flesh. This innovation, led by CHENG Xiaohua from the College of Horticulture, promises to enhance the production of virus-free nursery trees and pave the way for future molecular biology research.
The Yuluxiang pear, a mid-late ripening variety of Pyrus bretschneideri, has garnered widespread acclaim in both domestic and international fruit markets. However, its propagation through traditional methods has been challenging due to significant variations among pear varieties. CHENG Xiaohua and the team at Hebei Agricultural University aimed to address this issue by establishing a rapid and efficient tissue culture system.
The process begins with the collection of new shoots from the university’s specimen garden, carefully sterilized and prepared for inoculation. The researchers experimented with various media and plant growth regulators to optimize proliferation and rooting conditions. After extensive trials, they identified the ideal medium for proliferation: MS supplemented with 1.00 mg·L-1 6-BA, 0.10 mg·L-1 NAA, 30.0 g·L-1 sucrose, and 6.0 g·L-1 agar. This combination yielded a propagation coefficient of 3.57 and an average of 1.17 effective shoots.
For rooting, the team found that 1/2MS medium with 2.0 mg·L-1 NAA, 20.0 g·L-1 sucrose, and 6.0 g·L-1 agar produced the best results, achieving a rooting rate of 60.00% and an average of 3.40 roots per plantlet. Interestingly, the study revealed that dark culture had no promotional effect on rooting, and increased dark culture time led to thinner roots and higher stem tip dieback rates.
The researchers also explored the impact of activated carbon on the growth of Yuluxiang shoots. While a low concentration of 0.5 g·L-1 activated carbon promoted aboveground growth, higher concentrations had an inhibitory effect, causing leaf browning in some plantlets.
After 40 days of culture, 132 Yuluxiang tissue culture seedlings were acclimated in a greenhouse and transplanted into nutrient pots. Despite an initial mortality rate, the survival rate of the plantlets reached 32.57% after 60 days, with robust and healthy growth observed.
This research, published in ‘Guoshu xuebao’ (Journal of Fruit Science), marks a significant milestone in pear propagation. “This study not only provides a reliable tissue culture system for Yuluxiang pears but also lays the groundwork for future molecular biology research,” CHENG Xiaohua stated. The implications of this work extend beyond the pear industry, offering insights into the propagation of other fruit varieties and contributing to the development of virus-free nursery trees.
As the global demand for high-quality fruits continues to rise, innovations in tissue culture technology will play a crucial role in meeting this demand sustainably. The success of CHENG Xiaohua and the team at Hebei Agricultural University in propagating Yuluxiang pears through tissue culture sets a precedent for future research and development in the field. This breakthrough could lead to increased production of virus-free nursery trees, enhanced genetic diversity, and improved fruit quality, ultimately benefiting farmers, consumers, and the environment. The future of pear propagation is looking sweeter than ever, thanks to the dedication and ingenuity of these researchers.