Sexual Propagation of Persian Shallot (Allium hirtifolium) Through Manual Pollination and In vitro Ovary Germination

Abstract

For sexual reproduction of <em>Allium hirtifolium</em>, collected bulbs were planted in the field. In order to develop ovary embryo and seed setting, control self-pollination and natural open pollination took placed using honey bees under cages. Ovary development and seed setting of <em>A. hirtifolium</em> extraordinary were affected by pollination and there was a significant difference between mean effect of self-pollination and natural open pollination using chi-Square test at α=0.05%. Open pollination using honey bees with average 23 numbers of seeds per flower stalk showed higher seed formation than control self- pollination. Out of 240 mature ovaries (25 and 35 day-old ovary), which have been isolated, 194 ovary were germinated (80.8%) from 25 and 35 days after pollination (DAP). Due to long embryo development in this species, all isolated embryo (less than 25 day-old) failed to develop direct plantlets on either MS hormone free or half-MS medium, for in vitro germination. Analysis of data originated from affect of culture media on embryo germination, indicated that there is no significant differences between culture media on embryo germination using Chi-square test at α=0.05 level. In spite of no differences, MS media showed higher ovary germination (average 54.33%) than half-MS medium (average 41.50%). Successful acclimatized plantlets transferred to green-house and then to the field.