Forest

Abstract
Recently interest is increasing for planting and domestication of socioeconomic forest trees to supply various wood needs to locals and improve well being of rural communities as well as environment amelioration. There is a need for conducting economically feasible method to make available plantable seedlings for tree planting and domestication activities. In addition to save riverbanks plantation by selecting good true to type seedlings to stop the suffering from the die-back that affects also its production. The paper describes a vegetative propagation method by using stem cuttings of Acacia nilotica. The tree is of socioeconomic importance and is the main reverine forest tree species a long the Nile and The blue and White Nile rivers. It is used in agroforestry systems as shelterbelts, for climate adaptation and soil improvement, hence selection and propagation of healthy individuals is needed. The paper also briefly discusses the effects of the rooting hormone Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in root initiation and development. The ultimate objective is to make available a feasible vegetative propagation production protocol by using stem cuttings for various tree planting programmes. Vegetative propagation of A. nilotica was studied using stem cuttings treated with IBA. The concentrations at 10, 20, 50 and 100 mg/l significantly enhanced the rooting ability of cuttings taken from nursery stock and field plantation. Cuttings from nursery stock plants rooted during summer with 10 and 100mg.l IBA giving 39.2 and 10 percent respectively. In winter 50mg/l IBA gave 30 percent whereas the other concentrations 10 and 20mg/l gave 10 and 20 percent while 100mg/l gave 10 rooting percent. Continuity of research work to improve rooting percentage will assist in using rooted cuttings successfully in establish of seed orchards, research and large-scale plantations.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
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Key Words: Acacia spp. A. nilotica, vegetative propagation, stem cuttings

ABSTRACT

The paper demonstrates a production protocol of Acacia tortilis subs spirocarpa; by in vitro germination and micro-propagation techniques. Plantations of A. tortilis subs spirocarpa are scarce although their natural stands are declining at a rapid rate. The tree exhibits a slow rate of growth and this degrades its ranking in plantation programmes. It is one of the multi-purpose trees and the need is for biomass production as a fodder tree adding to socio-economic and environment impacts in arid and semi arid regions in Sudan. The success in mass clone propagation through tissue culture leads to improve its rate of growth and quality of plantations in addition to short-term gains. The main objective is to explore the possibility of developing a simple and feasible in vitro production protocol for A. tortilis subs spirocarpa plantlets. The seeds were surface sterilized and then in-vitro germinated on Murashige and Skoog, 1962 (MS) basal medium to produce healthy seedlings free of contaminants for micropropagation. Apical and epicotyls shoots were excised from 3-5-7-week-old seedlings, cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with 0.0, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.25 mg/l 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 6- benzyl-aminopurine (BAP), separately and in combination. The axillary's shoots proliferation rate obtained in the study was acceptable for rapid multiplication of A. tortilis. Callus was developed in cultures and new regenerated shoots rooted with 0.1mg/l IBA giving 60 percent rooting and 40 percent rooting with 0.5mg/l IBA. The species shows a great potential in shoot regeneration, callus formation and plantlets production. It is therefore concluded that, it is possible to develop a simple and feasible in vitro production protocol for of A.tortilis subs. spirocarpa plants.
Key Words: Biotechnology, tissue culture, forest trees, acacias, Acacia tortilis subspp. _____________________________________________________________
* Yahia Hamid Ali Elbasheer. Associate Research Professor. Forestry Research Centre P. O. Box 13391 Soba, Sudan – yahiabasheer@gmail.com

Abstract

Vegetative propagation of Eucalyptus microtheca was studied using plant materials obtained from young and old stand trees in the field that do not root. But plant materials obtained from stock nursery plants grown for the whole period of the experiment (2- years) in polyethylene bags (20×30cm) easily rooted.  Indole-3-butyric acid was used in various concentrations. The study elucidates the suitable explants age is from 8-24 months in polythene bags and most effective auxin concentration for root formation and growth of cuttings. The concentrations at 10, 50 and 100 mg/l significantly enhanced the rooting ability in young cuttings. Cuttings from stock nursery plants rooted during winter and summer with the concentration 50 and 100mg/l IBA respectively both giving 50 percent. In winter 50mg/l IBA gave 30 percent whereas the other concentrations 10 mg/l gave 10 and 20 percent while 100mg/l gave 10 rooting percent. Rooted cuttings can be used successfully and recommended in establish seed orchards, research and large-scale uniform plantations for biomass production.

Key Words: Eucalyptus sups. Eucalyptus microtheca, Vegetative propagation stems cuttings

ABSTRACT:

Grewia tenax for its multiuse is considered as an important economical native plant and accordingly information on its propagation needed more work to construct feasible and applicable propagation protocol. Vegetative propagation of Grewia tenax plants of 8-24 month-old by stem cuttings was demonstrated to be easy and successful. The obtained percentages of rooting were 40-77% and the highest ones with best development of root system are during winter season. The use of non-mist propagators and application of the growth hormone; Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) of concentration 250 mg/l have significantly influence the development of rooted cuttings. It could be concluded that the rooted cuttings can be used successfully and feasibly in establishing seed and cutting orchards as well as production plantations.
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Key words: Grewia spp., vegetative propagation, stems cuttings

ABSTRACT

The paper highlights and discusses the importance of tissue culture technologies and its applications for plant propagation, improvement and development specifically socioeconomic forest plants. The work on tissue culture started since 1980's; recently it included some forest medicinal plants and some woody and non-woody ones such as; Acacia senegal (El-Hashab), Grewia sp. and others. Generally propagation by seeds is not a suitable method for producing true - to- types, species or cultivars of disease resistant and of high quality and yield. Plant obtained from single cell shows variation after many subcultures giving somaclonal variation that can be transmitted to regenerated plants. But pure lines can be selected keeping morphological and physiological characters of their mother plants. Hence there is the need for rapid mass multiplication of improved or selected plants by somatic embryogenesis, adventitious organs and buds. In forest plants; use of adventitious organ cultured in-vitro show genetically apparent plants and axillary’s bud multiplication is slow but almost genetically stable similar to shoot tip cultures. Hence there are needs of in-vitro cultures for producing sufficient planting materials of selected trees for sustainable planting programmes. Most of forest tree species explants cultured in-vitro on MS (Morashige and Skoog, 1962) medium show high potential in callus formation and shoot regeneration. The paper focuses on some local experiments of in-vitro cultures, methods and results such as; A. senegal, A. tortilis explants as well as A. seyal and Grewia tenax. Therefore there are needs for harnessing tissue culture techniques for developmental aspects in agriculture specifically forest plants. Aiming to improve plantation, get disease free produce, and increase yield for export and commercial use. In addition to its application in various biotechnological subjects it is essential in many areas of agricultural plants science. The main objective therefore is to explore the research experiments achieved for developing in-vitro production protocols for planting programmes, commercializing forest products, possibilities of application and development.
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Key Words: Biotechnology, tissue culture, in-vitro culture, forest trees, Acacia sp, Grewia sp.
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* Associate Research Professor *Forestry Research Centre P. O. Box 13391 Soba, Sudan – aliyahiaer917@yahoo.com

In vitro micropropagation technique for mass production of plant materials faces vital problems induced by microorganism's contaminants such as; bacteria, fungi and endophytic ones, this research study aimed to manifest and manipulate the microbial contamination in forest tree tissue culture laboratory at the Forestry and gum Arabic Research Centre in Sudan in vitro cultures, and to eliminate surface contaminants by economically feasible sterilant. The tissue culture work was conducted on young and mature explants of Acacia senegal (El-Hashab). Explants; were washed under running tap water for 30 minutes, then soaked in a solution mix of 100mg/l ascorbic and 150 mg/l citric acid for 10 minutes. The explants were immersed in 70% ethanol for 15 seconds, washed by several changes of sterilized double distilled water; then immersed in 100ml Clorox solution of 0.0%, 20%, 30% and 60% mixed with 3 drops of Tween 20 for 20 minutes. After continuous shaking explants were rinsed three times with sterilized distilled water under laminar airflow cabinet, and then cultured on culture tubes. In this study percentages of commercial Clorox were found to be effective in sterilization, elimination of contaminants and survival of A. senegal explants. The result showed a high number of uncontaminated and survival of Shambat yard explants with 20% Clorox. The concentrations 30% and 60 % were found not effective for sterilization of explants from Elobeid Hashab belt that showed 100% contamination. The conclusion is that; the package of contamination control of tissue cultures by manipulating well aseptic cultures and to maintain good laboratory practice, with carrying routine testing for contamination.

The experiment was carried out at the nursery of Forest and gum Arabic Research Centre replicated twice during 2013-2015. The objective of the study is to make available a feasible nursery potting mix to produce seedlings of high quality and plant able sizes and with; ease and light weight of potting for transport. Azadirachta indica seedlings were selected as a model and their variable growth performance parameters were taken as indicators of success. The potting mix ratios components used were; clay (Goraira), coarse sand, fresh dried and milled goat pellets, and dry falling leaves collected from different tree species. Seven treatments of mix ratios were prepared and laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in three replicates. The variable indicators measured were, seedling height, number of leaves and branches, and diameter. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the means were separated by LSD at 5% level of significance. Results obtained indicated that seedlings growth performance was low in control TrA (Treatment pure Goraira) compared with other ones with goat manure. Positive influence of growth parameters showed a significant difference R² = 0.801 in week two. In week twelve TrD: sand, goat manure and leaves in ratio 1:3:3 respectively, showed a high value in terms of leaves number (41.0±3.8) and height (35.3±2.7cm) comparable with the control (TrA=16.1±4.5), height (25.2±1.9 cm) and the other five treatments. The results showed that goat manure and litter mix with sand significantly affect the measured growth parameters. Significant difference was shown in weights of containerized seedlings by a difference of 40.7% between TrA (5.3± 0.5kg) and TrD (3.2±0.5kg). Based on the findings it could be concluded that fresh goat manure mix seems to promote growth performance of A. indica seedlings; and gave light weights of containerized seedlings. Thus, it is recommended for production of seedlings in nursery to use Tr. D mix specifically in desert regions devoid of clay soils (Goraira), such as Northern Kordofan, North and White Nile States. ____________________________________________________________________

Balanitis aegyptiaca (L.) is evergreen multipurpose tree in savanna regions, drought hardy and distributed on clay soils of Sudan. It is one of major sources of fodder, food for animals, humans and folk medicine. It is considered an endangered species due to over exploitation, economical underutilization, rare or lack of a forestation and natural regeneration management practices. In addition, hard woody coated seeds are highly variable in weight and morphology hence manifest problems in germination and genetic aspects. The objective of the work is to study effects of seed mechanical treatments and various Murashige and Skoog, 1962 (MS) media strengths on in vitro seed germination and seedling growth parameters; and to standardize in vitro protocol. Coated and manually decoated seeds were in vitro sterilized and cultured on growth regulators-free solid MS media of full, half and fourth strengths. Germination and seedling growth parameters were recorded and statistically analyzed. The result shows that woody seed coat negatively affect in vitro seed germination percentages and in time. Significant difference in germination was shown between treated seeds and MS media strengths (P< 0.05). Decoated seeds showed 95% of germination during the first week under in vitro conditions on full strength MS medium comparable to coated ones (0%) in same period. Half and forth MS media strengths gave 60 and 65% germination in the same period respectively, Fourth strength MS media showed a high shoot length and number of leaves compared to other strengths ones hence; can be recommended as basal medium for in vitro seedling shoot growth. Shoot and root parameters were positively affected during a short period. The results showed high significant differences in germination and seedling growth parameters with treatments and media strengths. Mechanical scarification worked very well, resulting in high germination percentages and lessen time for germination. Therefore seed decoating scarification is recommended to be part of standard protocol for B. aegyptiaca seed treatments.