Micro Propagation of Pterocarpus santalinoides Using Three Different Growth Media

Abstract

Aims: Micro propagation of P. santalinoides was carried out in order to ascertain the most appropriate culture media for its micro propagation.
 Study Design: The experiment was laid out in different growth media in the laboratory.
 Place and Duration of Study: The micro propagation of Pterocarpus santalinoides was carried out at the Tissue culture laboratory of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and lasted between July and October 2018.
 Methodology: Seeds from fresh and healthy ripe fruit which was cut open mechanically with the help of secateurs were gotten from Ai-kwu, Otukpa Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The seeds were air dried and used as explant. The explants were surface sterilized using NaOCl solution for 10 mins, rinsed with distilled water and then the soft seed coat were removed and the seeds were cultured under aseptic conditions on MS medium and other growth medium. Seeds of Pterocarpus santalinoides were inoculated on six different growth media with varying compositions. The media are MS, B5 and white’s without growth hormones (MSoo, B5oo, and WHoo), and each of them was supplemented with 3.0 mgl-1 BAP and 0.5 mgl-1 NAA (MSBN, B5BN, WHBN).
 Results: Seed germination improved in all the media studied. However, MS combinations gave the best result (90-93%). The maximum number of leaves and roots recorded was in MSBN (3.8 for leaves and 2 for roots) followed by MSoo (2.6) and WHBN (2.6). The leaf area was best for the MS combination (0.232 cm2) followed by the White’s combinations (0.154 cm2) and least for the B5 combinations (0.026 cm2) while shoot and root length was maximum in MSBN (4.28 cm for the shoot and 1.18 cm for the root) followed by WHBN (1.90 cm). The result for t-test revealed that there was a significant difference between the parameters studied for growth media with growth hormones and those without growth hormones. The recorded percentage germination rate for MS medium without growth hormone was 90.75±0.97 while MS medium supplemented with growth hormone was 93.25±0.25. B5 medium without growth medium was 60.25±0.50 and when supplemented with growth hormone, the value was 66.50±0.57. White medium without growth hormone had a value of 75.25±1.70 and when supplemented with growth hormone the value was 78.0±0.81.
 Conclusion: The growth rates of Pterocarpus santalinoides, in MS medium among other basal media (B5 and White) offers a compromise between all the growth parameters which indicates that variation of the basal medium composition could lead to enhanced Pterocarpus santalinoides regeneration efficiency.