INFLUENCE OF THE STERILIZATION METHOD AND THE TIME OF INTRODUCTION INTO IN VITRO CULTURE ON THE VIABILITY OF EXPLANTS OF THE CLONAL APPLE STOCK 54-118

The stage of introducing explants into a sterile culture is difficult in the technology of clonal micropropagation of plants. The article shows the possible ways of sterilization and the introduction terms of explants of the clonal apple stocks 54-118 into in vitro culture in order to reduce planting infection and increase the yield of sterile viable explants. The best time for introducing clonal apple stocks 54-118 into sterile in vitro culture is the period of active shoot growth. Sterilization of explants with ethyl alcohol (70,0 %, 1 min) in combination with hydrogen peroxide (33,0 %) for 7 minutes and ethyl alcohol (70,0 %, 1 min) in combination with diacide (0,1 %) within 6 minutes contributed to the production of 63,0 % and 60,0 % of viable sterile explants.