title: Propagation of Casuarina equisetifolia through axillary buds of immature female inflorescences cultured in vitro.
abstract: The study of the actinorhizal symbiosis in Casuarina equisetifolia requires an homogenous plant material. Consequently, we devised a method of micropropagation based on the use of immature female inflorescences (IFI) as explants. IFI excised from an adult tree formed multiple buds after 4-week incubation on Murashige and Skoog medium with 0.05 μmol 1(-1) NAA and 11.1 μmol 1(-1) BAP. The axillary buds evolved into 5-6 cm long shoots 5 weeks after the transfer of IFI on a similar medium except for the addition of activated charcoal. Rooting of the shoots was obtained on a third medium, without BAP or charcoal, but with 1 μmol 1(-1) NAA. The plantlets were transferred into soil. Their growth was satisfactory and no plagiotropic tendency was observed.
authors.affiliation: Départment de Biologie Végétale, Faculté des Sciences, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duhoux
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sougoufara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dommergues