Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management

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Browsing Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management by Author "Abate Shiferaw"

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    Micropropagation of Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman from seedling
    (Addis Ababa University, 2008-07) Abate Shiferaw; Negash Legesse (Professor); Feyissa Tileye (PhD)
    The aim of this work was to develop micropropagation protocol for the threatened, multipurpose Afromontane tree, Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman, starting from aseptically grown seedlings. Application of 12% CaOCl2 on propagula for 15 minutes, following washing with the common laboratory detergent OMO and rinsing in 70% ethanol for 2 minutes resulted in seedlings that grew healthily and were free from microbial contaminants. Twenty to twenty five-day-old seedlings were used as explants. Among the tested concentrations of growth regulators, 2 mg/l BAP and 0.1 mg/l IBA in full strength MS medium yielded well initiated shoots. Activated charcoal (1g/l) was used for the initiation step, but not required in the subsequent transfers to multiplication media, as browning due to phenolic exudates was not a serious threat. Throughout all experiments, an initial pH value of 5.5 was maintained. Maximum shoot multiplication (4.6 shoots per explant) was obtained in response to 1 mg/l BAP without IBA. The sufficiently long (3-5 cm) and healthy microshoots that were transferred to half strength IBA free MS medium with 0.1% activated charcoal gave maximum rooting percentage (60) medium within 20 days. This was significantly higher from other compositions at P < 0.05. The plantlets each with average 11 roots were transferred to pots, with compost, red soil and sand in a 1: 2: 1 ratio. The pots were placed in a glasshouse for hardening, were covered with polythene plastic for one week, partially uncovered for the other one week, and then completely uncovered. All plantlets survived well. Key words/ phrases:- Acclimatization, Culture initiation, Micropropagation, Propagules, Prunus africana