This work aimed to verify the influence of basal and apical segments on the in vitro apple multiplication and the exposition time of explants in root media on plant survival during the acclimatization. Basal and apical explants of apple, cvs. ' M.111 ' and ' Marubakaido', with an axillary bud were inoculated in a MS media, added of 1.0 mg.L-1 BAP. After six weeks the number of shoots and buds and shoots length were evaluated. After that shoots of cv. Marubakaido were separated in explants of 2 to 2,5 cm length and inoculated in a root media, formed by MS ½ and 0.2 mg.L-1 IBA, where they remained for: 12, 15, 21 and 30 days. At the end of each treatment, the plantlets were transplanted to the greenhouse where they were evaluated for survival and dry matter weight of the roots and aerial parts of the plants after one month. Higher shoot number and shoot length were observed when basal explants were used to the cv. Marubakaido and higher bud formation in the explants of M.111 cultivar. In the acclimatization, the plants presented survival rates up to 90%, independently of the remained time in the media. The longer periods that the shoots remained in the roots media provided the higher dry matter weight of roots and aerial parts of the plants at longer greenhouse.
Malus sp.; micropropagation; tissue culture
