Abstract
This report describes in vitro shoot induction and plant regeneration from nodal segments of Balanites aegyptiaca on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with 6-benzyladenine (BA), thidiazuron (TDZ) and kinetin (Kin) (0.5-20.0 mu M). MS medium supplemented with BA (12.5 mu M) was the most effective in inducing bud break and growth and also in initiating multiple shoot proliferation. However, the optimal level of TDZ supplementation to the culture medium was 5.0 mu M. Shoot cultures were established by repeatedly subculturing the original nodal explants on the same medium. Highest number of shoots (11.5 +/- 0.7) and shoot length (5.0 +/- 0.2 cm) were achieved when cultures were subcultured on MS medium supplemented with 12.5 mu M BA and 1.0 mu M alpha-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The shoots regenerated from TDZ supplemented medium when subcultured to hormone free MS basal medium considerably increased the rate of shoot multiplication and shoot length by the end of fifth subculture. Rooting of the shoots was achieved on MS medium augmented with 1.0 mu M indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) plus 0.5% activated charcoal followed by their transfer to half strength MS basal medium. The in vitro raised plantlets with well developed shoots and roots were successfully established in earthen pots containing garden soil and were grown in greenhouse with 70% survival rate. The results of this study provide the first successful report on in vitro direct plant regeneration of B. aegyptiaca.