Impact of Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) on the Root Induction of Arbutus pavarii Pamp (Lybian Strawberry Tree) in in vitro Culture
Hameda A. Yousef *
Department of Forestry and Range Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al Bayda, Libya.
Hanan A. Idris
Department of Forestry and Range Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al Bayda, Libya.
Rabha M. Mansur
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al Bayda, Libya.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to clarify the best concentration of the indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in order to induce the formation of strong roots of Arbutus pavarii Pamp, an endangered plant in the El-Jabel El-Akhdar region in Libya. A study was carried out to find a protocol for its in vitro propagation. The present paper aimed to investigate the effects of different concentrations of IBA plant growth regulator on the rooting. Three weeks old seedlings obtained with in vitro germination were transferred to Murashige and Skoog (M&S) roots induction medium supplemented with different concentrations of IBA (0, 1, 1.5 and 2 mg L-1). The highest response was obtained with the M&S medium half-strength supplemented with IBA 1 mg L-1 concentration. All the measured growth indicators (rooting percentage, root length and dry weight) significantly enhanced when using this concentration.
Keywords: Micropropagation, germination, indole-3-butyric acid, roots dry weight, sterilization.