THE IN VIVO REJUVENATION OF THE MILLENNIUM OLIVES TREES IN BSHAALEH LEBANON

Olive trees (Olea europaea L.) in Bshaaleh region are millennium ones. In order to safeguard their local genetic resources, this study proposed to establish a culture initiation from axillary buds in vivo conditions. Fifteen shoots were collected during 3 seasons spring, summer and autumn and for 2 consecutive years (2009 and 2010). The Lebanese cultivar Souri was used in 2010 as control. The healthy shoots were treated with a mixture of fungicides and cut into segments with 4 to 6 nodes. The obtained cuttings were then dipped in a talc formulation of NAA for 30 minutes and planted in pots and left for 2 months in the greenhouse under controlled conditions. Several parameters were studied. The highest rate of proliferated buds (88%) was recorded in spring 2010.The highest percentage of newly developed leaves (11.2%), of callus formations (36%) and of rooting ability (10.67%) in Bshaaleh cuttings occurred during autumn 2010. Positive correlation was showed between length of cuttings and number of newly developed leaves.