Application of in vitro culture for resistance to desertification

Abstract EN

The development of micropropagation systems could have wide applications in agricultural production and environmental protection.

From the environmental perspective, in vitro culture has been widely used for the propagation and conservation of crop genetic resources.

In agriculture, micro- propagation technology was used successfully for the mass production of four tree species : Dalbergia sissoo, Delonix regia,Parkinsonia aculeata and Robenia pseudoacacia which were obtained from Antoniadis Botanical Garden, Alexandria, Egypt.

This technique helped to overcome some germination problems and subsequently the perpetuation of the unique traits of certain strains.

Drought and salinity are the most serious threats to agriculture and to the environment in many parts of the world.

Salt- tolerant clone (s) in banana, using in vitro mutation method, have been investigated.

The use of RAPD technique was sensitive and powerful to detect genetic variation at the level of DNA among banana somaclones.

This might be of particular importance in the future, dealing with in vitro selection to stress conditions.

The date palm helps to prevent soil erosion as well as desertification and is necessary for the protection of cereals, other fruit trees and grasses from direct exposure to the sun.

Until now, micro propagation of date palm by in vitro culture has had very limited success.

Our preliminary studies at Desert Development Center (The American University in Cairo, Sadat City, Egypt) with clonal propagation of Egyptian date palm variety "Zagloul" indicated that mass cloning in palms was probably only possible through somatic embroyogenesis via callus.

So, regeneration from somatic embroyogenesis remains a major problem for micropropagation of date palm.

Successful cloning protocols have been established for some multipurpose forest trees which are suitable for desert agriculture, such as Casuarina, and Acacia Micro propagation technique offers a new approach for mass production of apple and peach rootstocks which are suitable for desert conditions in Egypt.