In Vitro Regeneration Protocol for Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen., a Threatened Medicinal Plant within the Region of Lubumbashi (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Abstract

Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen. is an overexploited forest species in the Lubumbashi region (south-eastern DR Congo), as its roots are highly valued in traditional medicine. Conventional propagation of this species is affected by seed dormancy and a high mortality rate during early seedling development. To improve on existing methods, we developed an in vitro seed germination protocol. After observing the germination rates, the effects of different doses (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 mg/L) of cytokinins (6-benzylaminopurine, kinetin, and meta-topolin) on S. longepedunculata seedling development were compared. Our results showed that soaking for 10 min in NaOCl (10%) followed by 5 min in ethanol (70%) effectively reduced the death rate of seeds while increasing the germination rate to almost 77%. The addition of cytokinins improved plantlet growth: a 12.2× increase in the number of plantlets was obtained with 1.5 mg/L meta-topolin, while only a single stem was obtained from the control. The effects of different auxin types on rhizogenesis did not differ significantly. The best recovery and rooting were noted with microcuttings from the basal parts of S. longepedunculata plantlets. Finally, the seedlings produced survived during the acclimatisation phase regardless of the type of substrate used. The established protocol provides a means for large-scale production of S. longepedunculata plantlets for the restoration of degraded landscapes and agroforestry.

Quantifying Forest Cover Loss during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Charcoal Production Basin of Lubumbashi (DR Congo) through Remote Sensing and Landscape Analysis

“…However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a notable surge in the utilization of traditional medicine. The heightened demand for medicinal plants utilized in traditional medicine placed additional stress on forest reserves [72], with communities intensifying their collection efforts [73]. Furthermore, the commercialization of medicinal plants flourished during the pandemic, incentivizing collectors to search for more specimens in forested areas [74][75][76][77][78].…”