In Vitro Propagation of Rubber Tree (Hevea Brasiliensis) Using Shoot-Tip and Nodal Cutting Explants

Abstract

Hevea brasiliensis which belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family is the primary source of natural rubber. Propagation of rubber tree by grafting on to unselected seedlings sustains intraclonal heterogeneity for vigour and productivity which could be improved via in vitro techniques. Micropropagation from rubber nodal and shoot tip explants is possible. In vitro technique is needful to mass propagate disease-free and genetically similar rubber plantlets. In vitro results in increased growth and vigour of rubber tree, However, in vitro techniques of rubber tree have not been given much critical research attention in Ghana. Propagation of H. brasiliensis by in vitro techniques was used to study alternative procedures for mass production of rubber planting materials. Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium amended with 30.0g/L sucrose, 100.0mg/L myo-inositol, 2.0g/L activated charcoal, 1.0mg/L silver nitrate AgNO3, 2.0mg/L GA3 and control, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 or 10.0mg/L kinetin was used to culture both H. brasiliensis shoottip and nodal explants. The MS medium with 5.0mg/L kinetin significantly (P<0.05) enhanced higher shoot development (84.00%), number of shoots (3.60) and leaves (23.40) of the shoot-tip explants compared to other treatments. In nodal explants, the control medium developed higher shoots (94.00%), the height of shoot (4.80cm), number of leaves (19.20), number of shoots (6.00) and number of roots (7.00) than those with kinetin treatments. Conversely, 7.5mg/L kinetin of the nodal culture also performed significantly after the controls. Successful in vitro regeneration of plantlets was achieved using Hevea brasiliensis shoot-tip and nodal cutting explants cultured on an MS medium supplemented with kinetin.