Assessment of different procedures for in vitro propagation of Salix miyabeana

Despite the large popularity of Salix miyabeana for various environmental applications in different parts of the world, most propagation techniques rely mainly on cuttings. However in vitro propagation seems a more reliable solution when selection of new commercial clones and varieties is the goal of propagating willows. The current study is the first attempt to propagate S. miyabeana via in vitro propagation, focusing on two specific aspects: different surface sterilization procedures (i.e. combinations of different sodium hypochlorite concentrations and soaking times) and different types of explants (apical vs. lateral). Our findings show that 3% sodium hypochlorite for 20 min represents the most effective sterilization procedure to ensure healthy plants. Additionally, the material obtained from apical explants showed higher survival rate, budding ability and lower microbiological contamination compared to lateral explants.