S04 - Session O1 - Improving in vitro shoot growth of Moringa oleifera Lam. (miracle tree) using temporary immersion bioreactors

Authors: Elsa S. Du Toit *, Elmien Coetser, Gerhard Prinsloo

This research tested the effect of temporary immersion systems (TIS) on the growth of Moringa oleifera microcuttings. TIS is known to improve the growth of plants in vitro because of improved aeration and nutrient uptake in other crops. Microcuttings were made from in vitro -grown seedling material and planted onto a pre-culturing solidified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA). The microcuttings consisted of the first two lateral nodes, with the apical nodes removed. The different concentrations of BA included a control of 0 ppm BA, 0.1 ppm BA and 0.2 ppm BA. The cultures were grown on the pre-culturing media for two weeks and were then transferred to shooting media either in TIS bioreactors or onto a solidified medium, all containing 0.1 ppm BA. The cultures were harvested after six weeks of growth on the shooting media, and growth parameters were statistically analysed using ANOVA and Tukey's test. It was found that TIS resulted in increased amount and length of shoots produced per explant as well as increased shoot and callus fresh weight. With the increase in BA concentrations, growth decreased, which may indicate a sensitivity of M. oleifera to plant growth regulators (PGRs). Improving the protocol to produce moringa tissues in TIS will significantly enhance production.