Meristems of 'Tropical' peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) were collected on October 30th, November 30th and December 30th of 1986 and in January 30th and February 28th of 1987. These meristems were thereafter cultured in vitro. Those collected until November 30th, produced vegetative buds and normal peach vitroplants. Different results were obtained with the meristems collected in December, January and February which developed floral buds after 15 days in culture. The results showed that floral induction occurs in December in the subtropical areas of São Paulo State, Brazil. The hypothesis of floral bud irreversibility was confirmed; no vegetative bud developed in vitro after the inductive period.
Primus persica L. Batsch; 'Tropical' peach; meristem; in vitro culture; floral organogenesis; vitroplant