In vitro multiplication and cultivation of Actinidia arguta in the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

Actinidia arguta is a perennial fruit vine, not characteristic for natural flora of Moldova. This species is of interest to gardeners due to its high ornamental value, as well as exotic fruits (hardy kiwifruits). The research of this species has been carried out at the Experimental station of the Institute of Genetics and Plant Physiology of the Academy of Scien­ce of Moldova throughout in the period of eight years. Particular attention was paid to optimization of the methods of vegetative propagation and conditions of cultivation of a perspective and highly productive clone named Tatiana, previously selected from the generative pro­pagated plants. The apical meristems of adult plants served as source for elaborating the method of in vitro micropropagation. As a re­sult of testing different nutrients, the cultural medium for in  vitro propa­gation (with the multiplication factor equal to seven) and organo­ge­nesis was elaborated. Plants adaptation to ex  vitro conditions was assured by gradually increasing the light intensity, reducing the relative humidity from 95% to that of natural. In conditions of Cent­ral Moldova the crop yield from one 5–7-year plant of Tatiana clone was varying between 2 and 10 kg. The hardy kiwifruits were characterized by valuable organoleptic and biological properties. The antioxi­dant activity of kiwifruits juice determined by the potentiometric me­thod and expressed in equivalent of vitamin  C (VCEAC) was equal to 9.26 ± 0.28 μMol/g (per dry residue). Due to high content of phenols in hardy kiwifruits of Tatiana clone that remains stable during storage they can become a valuable source of nutrient substances.