In vitro propagation of Moroccan carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.)

An efficient and rapid method is described for the in vitro propagation of the Moroccan carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) from nodal segments obtained by in vitro germination using MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium. Various concentrations of different growth regulators were examined for the multiplication and rooting phases. In shoot multiplication, the best effects of cytokinins were obtained with 2 mg/l of zeatin and 2 mg/l of BAP (6-benzylaminopurine). The best effect of the combination of auxins and BAP was obtained with 0.5 mg/l of BAP and 0.5 mg/l of each auxin IBA (indole-3-butyric acid), NAA (2-naphthaleneacetic acid), and IAA (indole-3-acetic acid)). Nevertheless, the combination of 1.5 mg/l of BAP, 0.5 mg/l of IBA and 0.5 mg/l of GA3 (gibberellic acid) induced shoot multiplication and also provided rooting of shoots. Microshoots obtained from in vitro multiplication were best rotted in half-strength MS medium containing 2 mg/l of IBA. Acclimatization of vitroplantlets was relatively successful, 5 of plantlets transferred to potting mixture survived after 2 months.