Negash Legesse (Professor)Feyissa Tileye (PhD)Abate Shiferaw2018-07-102023-11-092018-07-102023-11-092008-07http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/7663The 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 africanaenAcclimatizationCulture initiationMicropropagation,PropagulesPrunus africanaThesis