AprotocolformicropropagationusingnodalexplantsfrommaturePinusmassonianatreeshasbeendeveloped.Timeofexplantcollectioniscrucialfortheinitialsuccessofasepticculture.ExplantscollectedinearlyMarchgavethehighestpercentageofexplantsurvival(64.5%)andshoot-formingpercentage(52.3%).Thidiazuron(TDZ)concentrationsignificantlyinfluencedshootformation;4lMTDZwasoptimum,with4.8shootsproducedperexplantwithameanlengthof7.1cmafter120daysofculture.Regeneratedshootsrootedfor60daysinbasicmediumwith1lMNAAwerereadyforgrowthinpots.ThisisthefirstreportonplantletregenerationinvitrofrommaturetreesofP.massonianathatprovidesareliablemethodforpropagatingselectedelites.
