IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF Balanites aegyptiaca (L) DEL., AN ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANT.

Abstract

Young vigorous shoot tips of wild Balanites aegyptiaca (L) Del. were collected from Paris Oasis, Alwadi Algadeed, Egypt and used as the source of explants for micro-propagation. Shoots were established on MS basal solid medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA) at different levels combined with αnaphthalene acetic acid (NAA). MS medium without any growth regulators enhanced shoot elongation, while shoots response and axillary branching were affected by BA levels. Shoots productivity were significantly affected by the presence of BA. Shoots number and length were significantly achieved on MS medium contained 2.0 or 2.5 mg/l of BA combined with 0.2 mg/l of NAA. In vitro rooting, shoots were rooted on MS basal solid medium contained either IBA singly or mixture of IBA and NAA. Shoots were rooted well on MS basal solid medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l of IBA .Rooted shoots were planted in pots filled with peat moss and sand ( 1 : 1 ) v/v mixture. Survival percentage for adapted plantlet were 90 % after 4 weeks. The plantlets were transferred to polyethylene bags and replanted successfully under field conditions.