Carob micropropagation techniques - Volume 1

Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is of great ecological and socio-economic importance in Morocco, hence the interest of such a study to promote its multiplication. We have developed a micropropagation technique of Carob tree by culturing apexes taken from seedlings at the stage of two cotyledonary leaves aged seven days. WPM macroelements supplemented with 2.22 µM BAP gave good results during the initiation and multiplication phases. Rooting of the seedlings was best on MS/2 medium supplemented with 10 µM BAP. Acclimation on peat at 100% relative humidity gave 80% success. We also successfully micropropagated Carob by culturing cotyledonary buds from 13-day-old seedlings. The study of the effect of the four cytokinins, showed that BAP is the most favorable to bud break. Shoot multiplication is more favorable in the presence of BAP at 2.22 µM. 90% rooting is obtained with 10 µM of AIB.Key words: Carob tree, Ceratonia siliqua L., micropropagation, apex, epicoyl.