Abstract
Organogenesis is an in vitro regeneration method used for rapid and large-scale propagation of a number of plant species. During the last decade, organogenesis has been used as a tool to rehabilitate date palm groves in Morocco, and resulted in the production of millions of date palm plantlets. In the present study, the production cost of date palm plantlets (cv. Mejhoul) obtained through direct organogenesis was estimated. The organogenesis protocol used was based on previously published studies. The cost analysis included the costs of offshoots, culture medium components, chemicals, equipment maintenance, water, fuel and electricity consumption as well as staff salaries and all the consumables used during in vitro work and plantlet acclimatization. The hardware (infrastructure, laboratory equipment and vessels) cost was not included. During the production process, the loss of plant material due to endophytic bacteria, tissue browning and hyperhydricity was taken into account. At the end of the organogenesis process, an average of 947.6 plantlets were produced from one offshoot. It was found that staff salaries (46.05%) and electricity consumption (26.16%) account for the majority of expenses. The production cost of one plantlet was estimated to be US$ 3.84. The findings of the present study highlight the economic feasibility of using organogenesis for date palm propagation. The production cost of date palm plantlets through organogenesis was estimated. The economic feasibility of this technique was highlighted when compared with conventional propagation through offshoots.
Published Version
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