Somatic Embryogenesis and Organogenesis for Regeneration of Endangered Multipurpose Desert Plant <i>Leptadenia pyrotechnica</i> Forsk. Decne in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Abstract

Leptadenia pyrotechnica is an important multipurpose endangered plant in the Kingdom of Bahrain with restricted distribution. Nodal explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of indole acetic acid (IAA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Initially, 80% and 60% explants responded in direct shoot and callus initiation response respectively in presence of 8.88 µM BAP with 5.71 µM IAA in modified MS media after two weeks of culture. The highest frequency of plant regeneration was observed in presence of 8.88 µM BAP with 1.14 µM IAA following organogenic pathway of differentiation. Hundred percent callus proliferation was observed while initial callus developed in presence of 4.44 µM BAP with 2.85 µM IAA and was transferred in media containing 4.44 µM, 6.66 µM BAP with 2.85 µM IAA and 13.32 µM BAP with 5.71 µM IAA. The callus derived plants were regenerated following the pathway of indirect somatic embryogenesis. The induction of somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from callus was also observed in modified MS media supplemented with 4.44 µM BAP and 2.85 µM IAA. The plant regeneration protocol we developed for Leptadenia pyrotechnica will be very beneficial for biodiversity conservation and environment protection of Bahrain. Moreover, the present paper reports for the first time specifically the somatic embryogenesis in this multipurpose desert plant Leptadenia pyrotechnica.

ETHNOBOTANICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forssk.) Decne.: A REVIEW

“…is a typical desert plant belongs to the Asclepiadaceae family (Ali et al, 2001). It is leafless, erect and evergreen shrub commonly known as Khimp, Kheep or Khip , which is used for multipurpose (Sadeq et al, 2014). It is native to Mediterranean regions, semi-arid deserts of African and Asian countries, where sandy and dry conditions prevail.…”

“…The shoots were firstly planted in nursery and then in the natural habitat successfully. The experiment on the somatic embryogenesis was devised by Sadeq et al, (2014) to conserve that endangered plant in Bahrain. In this experiment various amounts of IAA and BAP were used.…”