African Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences 5 (2): 55-63, 2013 ISSN 2079-2034 © IDOSI Publications, 2013 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.ajbas.2013.5.2.23313 Corresponding Author: Sabah A. Hassanen, Tissue Culture Unit, Genetic Resources Department, Desert Research Center, El-Matarya, Cairo, Egypt. 55 In vitro Preservation of Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) Muscat of Alexandria and Black Monukka Cultivars as Genetic Resource Sabah A. Hassanen, A.I.A. Abido, M.A.M. Aly and G.A. Rayan 1 2 2 1 Tissue Culture Unit, Genetic Resources Department, Desert Research Center, El-Matarya, Cairo, Egypt 1 Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Saba Basha, Alexandria University, Egypt 2 Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate in vitro storage of grapevine “Muscat of Alexandria and Black Monukka’’cultivars under slow-growth conditions. Shoot tips were stored at low temperature 15°C for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Murashige and Skoog’s medium (MS) supplemented with appropriate concentrations of osmotic agents (ribose and sucrose) at various concentrations (100, 200 and 300 μM/l) or growth retardant, alar (B9; succinic acid 2-2dimethyl hydrazide) at various concentrations (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mg/l) were tested. After storage duration (3, 6, 9 and 12 months) survival percentage for shoots were evaluated. In vitro cultures maintained at15°C on MS medium containing ribose or alar showed positive affected for preservation the two cultivars. After twelve months of storage, the culture successfully regenerated into new shoots and they were morphologically similar to those of non-stored. Key words: Grapevine %In vitro storage %Alar (B9) %Ribose and sucrose %Recovery INTRODUCTION artichoke and banana. Osmotic agents act as a growth In vitro techniques can be used for the propagation conservation. When added to the culture medium, and conservation of rare or endangered species and crop these carbohydrates reduce the hydric potential and genetic resources in both agriculture and horticulture restrict the water availability to the explants [14, 15]. "either" for the current production of new plants or for Besides temperature and osmotic agents and growth short to medium–term storage [1]. Vitis vinifera L. retardants are also used for in vitro germplasm (grapevine) is one of the major fruit crop worldwide and is conservation with abscisic acid (ABA) and Alar (B9) [9]. of high economic interest [2]. Grape germplasm is most Although research on the development of conservation commonly used in field gen banks, but will face serious techniques has been done for numerous plant species, up problems in the near future due to large amount of space to now there is no report of methodologies for in vitro required and high cost of maintenance [3, 4]. An in vitro conservation of grapes. Muscat of Alexandria and Black germplasm preservation method could reduce the labor Monukka cultivars. In addition of osmotic agents or and space requirements of traditional storage methods [5]. growth retardants to culture media to suppress shoot This preservation technique also favors to maintain growth and lengthen subculture duration at normal pathogen free plant materials, safely distribution and culture temperatures. This storage technique is generally cultures are not damage by adverse weather conditions applicable to wide range of fruit tree genotypes is [6]. Conservation of plant genetic resource by in vitro extending the ordinary subculture duration from few technology has been done by slow growth procedures or weeks [16] to 6 months [10] on grapes plant and different cryopreservation [7, 8]. Slow growth is generally achieved plant species [13]. Minimal growth storage is very simple by reducing growth rate through the use of growth technique and has been studied in several laboratories for retardants such as Alar (B 9) on pear genotypes [9]. Pyrus germplasm conservation [17, 18]. Barlas and Skene Low temperature, [10] and addition of osmotic agents [19] have reported successful storage of 7 species of (sucrose, sorbitol, ribose and mannitol [11-13] globe grapes for periods up to 12 months. After preservation retardants by causing osmotic stress to the material under