Micropropagation of holm oak by axillary budding and somatic embryogenesis

Abstract

Holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) populations are strongly affected by la seca syndrome, a disease of complex aetiology that causes the gradual deterioration of trees until their death. The longterm survival of the dehesa agroforestry ecosystem is seriously altered by the progress of this disease. The research reported in this doctoral thesis has produced significant advances regarding the application of two propagation methods: axillary shoot proliferation and somatic embryogenesis, which can be used to conserve and strengthen surviving populations as well as to produce forest reproductive material of holm oak showing greater tolerance to P. cinnamomi and hydric stress, two of the main agents that cause la seca syndrome.