The aim of this paper was to develop a protocol for plantlets production in kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis Planch) "Hayward" through in vitro cotyledons cultivation. For this purpose the Murashige & Skoog (1962) medium was supplemented with two types of auxin (IAA and IBA) and also with a cytokinin (BAP). Effects over the morphogenic capacity of the explants were tested using three auxin (0.125; 0.250 and 0.375 mg.L-1) and cytokinin (0.5; 1.0 and 1.5 mg.L-1) concentrations. Studies in the obtained plantlets histology and acclimatization capacity were proceeded. It could be concluded that IBA at the lowest concentration (0.125 mg. L-1) was the most effective in explants morphogenesis, regardless of the BAP concentration. In vitro obtained plantlets did not present any anatomical nor histological alterations. Three months after transplanting it was observed that 88% of the plantlets had survived at field conditions.
micropropagation; kiwi; cotyledons; ex vitro acclimatization
