In vitro propagation and cryopreservation of native desert plant species of Kuwait: Haplophyllum tuberculatum, Ochradenus baccatus, and Salvia spinosa

S.S. Almazrooei, R.A. Aldewai
In vitro propagation and conservation of selected plant species, grown in the desert of Kuwait, was studied. Micropropagation of Haplophyllum tuberculatum, Ochradenus baccatus, and Salvia spinosa through axillary bud culture showed different morphogenic potentials depending on species type and ratio of 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) to 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) supplemented in Murashige and Skoog (MS) culture medium. Indirect organogenesis and production of adventitious shoots from callus was the common and frequent response in all tested species. This was achieved at low concentration of NAA within the NAA and BAP combinations applied. Obtained results showed that organogenesis and its differentiation depended on the type, concentration and combination of the plant growth regulators supplemented in the culture medium, and that cytokinin, in particular, has an essential role in the in vitro culture initiation of investigated species. Encapsulation-dehydration method was applied for cryopreservation of axillary buds derived from in vitro-cultured plants using a combination of encapsulation in alginate beads, sucrose preculture and dehydration prior rapid freezing in LN at -196°C. Survival rate of encapsulated axillary buds of the three species under study differs in term of dehydration period. Recovery of in vitro-derived buds of O. baccatus and H. tuberculatum was achieved at high moisture content of the beads. In contrast, high survival of S. spinosa buds required low moisture content of the beads. Both the in vitro propagation and cryopreservation systems established in this work will be useful for conservation programs of many native desert plant species in Kuwait, as well as, the Arabian Peninsula region.
Almazrooei, S.S. and Aldewai, R.A. (2017). In vitro propagation and cryopreservation of native desert plant species of Kuwait: Haplophyllum tuberculatum, Ochradenus baccatus, and Salvia spinosa. Acta Hortic. 1187, 199-218
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1187.21
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1187.21
BAP, Haplophyllum tuberculatum, in vitro conservation, NAA, Ochradenus baccatus, Salvia spinosa
English

Acta Horticulturae