Studies on the micropropagation of carob : Ceratonia siliqua L.

Micropropagation of carob was possible from field-grown mature trees using axillary buds as explant material. Surface sterilisation and subsequent development of the buds was difficult to achieve due to the production of phenolic exudates by the explants, which were detrimental to plant health. The use of a pre-soak with an antioxidant (ascorbic acid) solution in the surface sterilisation procedure and the use of half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium as the initiation medium were found to alleviate the negative effects of the explant exudate production and minimise explant browning. Seedling cultures were easily initiated by germinating immature carob seeds onto MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mgL·1 6-benzylaminopurine (SAP) and 0.1 mgL·1 indoleacetic acid (IAA). This medium was also suitable for shoot multiplication and for inducing callus tissue formation. Carob callus, derived from the hypocotyls of in vitro germinated immature seeds, was proliferated by subculturing onto carob multiplication medium further supplemented with 0.5 or 1.0 mgL·1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-0). Somatic embryo formation was induced on callus that was cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mgL·1 SAP. The incidence of various physiological disorders such as changes in leaf size, apical necrosis, lenticel hypertrophy and vitrification under different light intensity levels was investigated. Leaf size is controlled by irradiance and at higher irradiance levels, leaf size increases reaching gigantic size. The optimum light intensity for carob multiplication was 3,500 Lux.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Malta

Year dc:date.issued

1999

• Carob -- Malta
• Plant micropropagation -- Malta
• Seedlings -- Malta

Statement dc:rights

• info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess

Language dc:language.iso

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/79439

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.um.edu.mt:123456789/79439