African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 2 (11), pp. 421-424, November 2003

ISSN 1684-5315  © 2003 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

In vitro multiplication of the semi-arid forest tree, Balanites aegyptiaca (l.) Del.

Mansor Ndoye¹, Ismaïla Diallo² and Yaye Kène Gassama/Dia¹

¹Laboratoire de biotechnologies, Département de Biologie Végétale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop Dakar, B.P. 5005, Dakar, Sénégal.

²ISRA-DRPF, Route des Pères Maristes, B.P. 2312, Dakar, Sénégal.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: mndoye@ucad.sn. Tel: 5331084.  Fax: (221) 824 63 18.

Accepted 28 October 2003

Procedures were developed for micropropagation of Balanites aegyptiaca using axillary bud explants obtained from mature trees. Cultures were established in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.1 mg/l naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The effects of kinetin on shoot growth and proliferation in vitro was also investigated. Results show that shoot multiplication required 2.5 mg/l of BAP. Shoot length was significantly affected by the presence of BAP or 6-furfurylaminopurine (Kin). Rooting of shoots in vitro was achieved on MS medium containing 20 mg/l of the auxin, indolebutyric acid (IBA). Rooted shoots acclimated and were successfully transferred into soil, with 48% of the plantlets surviving.

Key words: Balanites aegyptiaca, micropropagation, rooting.