In vitro propagation of african moringa (Moringa Stenopetala) from shoot tips explants

Abstract

Moringa stenopetala is belongs to the family Moringaceae. All parts of the tree except the wood are edible and have high medicinal value. It provides highly nutritious food for both humans and animals. In spite of incredible value for both medicine and nutrition, it is not known in most part of the world other than its area of cultivation (south Ethiopia and north Kenya) except recently which has attracted the attention of scientists across the globe for health management due to its’ nutritional and medicinal properties. However, its expansion is limited by different factors like the propagation method and hence needs an efficient propagation system to supply enough planting material with uniform genotype. Therefore, this study was initiated to develop a protocol for in vitro propagation of this tree. In the study shoot tips from in vitro grown seedling were cultured in MS medium supplemented with different concentration of BAP, kinetin and BAP with NAA to see their effect on shoot initiation and multiplication. Micro shoots were then transferred into 1/2 MS medium supplemented with different combination of NAA and IBA for root induction. The experiments were carried out in completely randomized design (CRD) with ten replications per treatment and three explants per jar. The cultures were kept at a temperature of 25  2 oC and light intensity of 2,000-Lux produced from cool white fluorescent tubes for 16 h photoperiod. Data like shoot number, shoot length and leaf number for shoot multiplication and root number and root length for root induction were collected, and analyzed using SAS software. Statistical analysis revealed that there was significant difference among all treatments applied in both shoot multiplication and rooting experiment. There was also 100% initiation of shoot after one week of culture in all applied treatment of shoot initiation and multiplication. Maximum numbers of shoots per explant (17.40±0.74) were obtained from MS medium containing 1.0 mg/l BAP. The highest numbers of induced roots per shoot (10.20±0.15) were obtained at 1.0 mg/l NAA. Finally well rooted shoots were transferred in to greenhouse for acclimatization and 78% of them survived. The results of this study indicate that large- scale propagation of this tree by tissue culture methods is feasible.