In vitro propagation of Capparis decidua through shoot tip culture of seedlings and mature trees

Capparis decidua is a desert plant resistant to longtime drought conditions, special to southern part of Iran (Hormozgan, Bushehr and Sistan and Baluchistan Provinces). Due to lack of seed germination, asexual regeneration of intact trees of the species by tissue culture may save genetic resources of the valuable species. This research was performed in order to use in vitro culture and proliferation of seedling and mature trees to regenerate Capparis decidua. Mature seeds were collected from selected trees in natural habitat of the species located in Sirik forests of Hormozgan Province during June. Embryos were aseptically sterilized and transferred in different mediums (MS N/2, MCM and Magenta GA7 vessels with vermiculite, peat and perlite in 1:1:1 ratio, irrigated with and without MS medium). After 3 weeks, 74% of the embryos produced seedlings. Shoot tips of the seedlings and mature trees, were sterilized and cultured on MCM and MS mediums. At shooting stage, MCM containing 0.3 mgl-1 BA, 0.5 mgl-1 2ip, 0.1 mgl-1 IBA and 0.5 mgl-1 GA3 was the best medium. The highest rate of rooting (89%) was achieved on MS (N/2) containing 0.5 mg/l IBA, in Magenta vessels containing sterile vermiculate and peat. The plantlets were successfully transferred to the soil at Natural Resource Research of Jask.