Full Length Research Paper

In vitro propagation of miracle berry (Synsepalum dulcificum Daniel) through embryo and nodal cultures

K. E. Ogunsola¹* and C. O. Ilori²

¹General Diagnostics/Biotechnology Unit, Nigeria Plant Quarantine Service PMB. 5672 Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria.

²Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: kayodeogunsola@yahoo.co.uk, Tel.: +2348033950697.

Abbreviations:  MS, Murashige and Skoog; NAA, naphthalene acetic acid; BAP, 6-benzyl amino purine, IBA, indole butyric acid, 2,4-D, 2,4-dichlorophenoxylacetic acid, GA₃, gibberellic acid.

Accepted 7 December, 2007

Miracle berry is an evergreen tropical shrub which modifies sour food to produce a sweet taste. Its propagation is, however, hindered by seed recalcitrance and difficulty of stem to root. Thus in vitro propagation was investigated through embryo and nodal explants using different levels and combinations of auxins and cytokinins in MS medium. Embryo was regenerated in MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/l NAA + 0.2 mg/l BAP. Lateral buds proliferation was induced on the germinated embryo with 0.6 - 3.0 mg/l BAP + 0.1 - 0.2 mg/l NAA in which 3.0 mg/l BAP + 0.1 mg/l NAA produced highest number of buds. Rooting of the embryo regenerated plantlets was achieved with 1.0 - 2.0 mg/l IBA + 0.1 mg/l BAP. Very low (5 - 10%) axillary and terminal buds formation was achieved from nodal cultures. Few of the nodal explants formed buds with 0.1 - 0.8 mg/l NAA + 0.2 - 1.0 mg/l BAP + 0.02 mg/l GA3 with 0.8 mg/l NAA + 0.2 mg/l BAP producing the best result. However, all efforts to induce rooting on the buds formed from nodal explants proved abortive.

Key words: Miracle berry, in vitro conservation, recalcitrance, embryo culture, regeneration.