IN VITRO REGENERATION OF TRECULIA AFRICANA DECNE. FROM EMBRYO EXPLANTS ON THE MEDIA OF MURASHIGE AND SKOOG (MS) AND GAMBORG ET AL. (B5)

ABSTRACT

The effect of three different concentrations of sucrose namely 2, 3 and 4% were investigated on the in vitro regeneration of embryo explants of Treculia africana Decne. on the media of Murashige and Skoog (MS) (1962) and Gamborg et al. (B5) (1968) respectively without any growth regulator. The experimental design was a 2 x 5 factorial in a completely randomized design with each treatment consisting of ten replicates. Results showed that while both media including control supported the in vitro regeneration of T. africana embryo explants, B5 medium was found to be significantly superior (P≤0.05) to MS medium in all the growth parameters studied. B5 medium at 4% sucrose elicited the best response in all the growth parameters determined while control gave the least response. The protocol reported here can be used for large scale propagation of true-to-type T. africana plants within a short time for the purpose of  improvement through genetic transformation (mutagenesis) and  the development of a viable conservation programme.