Micropropagation of Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew. — a tree of arid horticulture

Abstract

A method for micropropagation of mature trees of Capparis decidua was developed. Multiple shoots were obtained from nodal explants on Murashige and Skoog's (1962) medium+0.1mgl⁻¹ NAA+5.0mgl⁻¹BAP+additives (50mgl⁻¹ ascorbic acid and25 mgl⁻¹ each of adenine sulphate, L-arginine and citric acid) at 28 ± 2°C, 12 h/dphotoperiod and 35–40 μmol m^-2s⁻¹ photon flux density. The shoots were multiplied by (i) subculture of nodal shoot segments onto MS +0.1 mgl^-−1 IAA+1.0mgl⁻¹ BAPH+additives, and (ii) repeated transfer of original explant onto MS+ 0.1mgl⁻¹ IAA+mg l⁻¹ BAP+additives, at intervals of 3 weeks. Sixty to 70% of the shoots rooted when pulse treated with 100 mg l⁻¹ IBA in half strength MS liquid medium for 4h, and then transferred onto hormone-free half-strength agar-gelled MS basal saltmedium. Incubation in dark at 33 ± 2°C for 6d favoured root induction. In vitro hardened plants were transferred to pots.