Micropropagation of malunggay (Moringa oleifera)
2008
Calinawan, N.M. | Halos, S.C., Arnichem Corp., College, Laguna (Philippines)
Malunggay is currently promoted as a potential industrial crop by the Department of Agriculture as source of oil for biodiesel, cooking oil or cosmetic ingredient. For the Philipines to be competitive in developing a crop for biodiesel, it must undertake a massive plantation establishment for malunggay, around 500,000. Planting at 10,000 trees per hectare, requires about 5 billion pieces. The massive requirement for planting stock could be met with cuttings from existing trees. Furthermore, there is an existing variation in fruiting and oil quality of the malunggay. Hence, this study was undertaken to develop a tissue culture technology for the micropropagation of seeds collected from selected mother trees that are prolific seed producers and with oil quality and yield acceptable to oil processors. Malunggay seeds collected from the Ilocos region were obtained from Biotech Office, Dept. of Agriculture. These were surfaced sterilized and the kernel dissected and placed on 22 different media formulations. Seven media formula induced the embryo to produce multiple shoots 19 days after inoculation. The number of shoots ranged from 1-13 pieces per seed. The best media produced an average of 9.8 shoots/seed and about 30 explants for the next round of multiplication. Some shoots were transferred to rooting media, others in shoot proliferation medium. Roots were induced in another 2 weeks. Provided that this rate of multiplication is maintained,one seed shall have multiplied into 27,000 plantlets 12weeks after inoculation. A massive production of malunggay planting stock is thus attainable. Experiments are being conducted to verify this projection and develop a protocol for hardening the plantlets prior to distribution to farmers. Selection of prolific pod-bearing trees is also underway.
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