EXPLOITING THE POTENTIAL OF AUXINS AND TRANS‑CINNAMIC ACID FOR IN VITRO ROOTING OF MELIA VOLKENSII GÜRKE CLONES

Abstract

The aim of this study was to optimize the in vitro propagation and rooting of elite Melia volkensii Gürke clones. The effects of auxins, trans-cinnamic acid, and silver thiosulfate (STS) were assessed. The genotype response to rooting was tested with the four best treatments on six clones. Melia volkensii shoots were successfully rooted at 98.9% from using a modified woody plant medium supplemented with 3.0 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The addition of IBA to the medium resulted in an increased number of roots per shoot. The highest average number of roots per shoot was 8 in the media with 2.0 μM IBA without STS, compared to 8.9 roots per shoot in the medium with 3.0 μM IBA and 0.02 M STS. The most effective medium for producing the longest roots was a woody plant medium containing IBA or indole-3-acetic acid. Adding silver thiosulfate to the rooting media reduced shoot callusing during rooting. Compared to other treatments, trans-cinnamic acid induced the development of roots with numerous secondary roots. There was a significant clone effect on rooting. All clones’ maximum numbers of roots were associated with the medium containing 3.0 μM IBA and 0.02 M STS. The findings of this study will enable mass propagation and planting of elite M. volkensii and encourage molecular breeding efforts