Micropropagation of Salvadora oleoides—An Oil Yielding Tree of Arid Forests

Abstract

Salvadora oleoides is an ecologically important multipurpose tree of the arid forest that occurs in saline areas of northwest India. The seed of this plant yields non-edible commercially usable oil. Poor seed germination, low seed viability, and increasing industrialization are some of the constant factors which significantly affect the status of the natural population of this plant. Therefore, there is a great need to develop an efficient propagation system using the tissue culture technique. In the present communication, we demonstrate the development of an in vitro propagation system for S. oleoides. Multiple shoots were induced from nodal segments harvested from about 25- to 30- yr-old lopped trees of S. oleoides on MS medium + 0.1 mg L−1 NAA (Naphthalene acetic acid) + 2.5 mg L−1 BA (6-Benzylaminopurine) + additives. The shoots were multiplied by (a) repeated transfer of the mother explants on MS medium + 1.0 mg L−1 BA + 0.1 mg L−1 NAA + additives and (b) subculturing of shoot on MS + 1.0 mg L−1 BA + additives. About 84% shoots rooted ex vitro on soilrite within 3–4 weeks when base (4–5 mm) of shoots was treated with 100 mg L−1 of IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid) for 5 min. The plantlets were hardened successfully in the greenhouse and transferred to the pots and field. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a regeneration protocol for S. oleoides from explants obtained from mature trees. Use of the ex vitro rooting technique for plant production serves as a more economical option as it reduces labor, cost, and time. We suggest that the methods developed and described in this article can be used for large-scale plant production and conservation of germplasm of this tree species.