Micropropagation of socotran fig, Dorstenia gigas schweinf. Ex Balf. F. —A threatened species, endemic to the island of Socotra, Yemen

SummaryAs an alternative to seed propagation, and efficient micropropagation system based on axillary shoot formation and subsequent rooting was developed for the threatened and medicinal plant species Dorstenia gigas (Moraceae). Three different basal media were tested. For the best basal medium, a modified WPM medium, different concentrations of the carbohydrates sucrose, glucose, fructose and maltose were tested. The total number of shoots was not markedly affected. For all carbohydrates but maltose, however, there was a reduction in the number of normal, healthy shoots for carbohydrate concentrations greater than 14.6 mM for the disaccharides and 27.8 mM for the monosaccharides (i.e., approximately 5 gl−1). Using 14.6 mM (5 gl−1) sucrose it has been possible to produce vigorous and true-to-type plants with a multiplication factor of approximately 2.6 per 6 wk.

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