Thidiazuron (TDZ) induced organogenesis and clonal fidelity studies in Haloxylon persicum (Bunge ex Boiss & Buhse): an endangered desert tree species.

Haloxylon persicum (Bunge ex Boiss & Buhse), is one of the hardy woody desert shrubs, which is now endangered and/or nearing extinction. Urban landscape development and overgrazing are the major threats for the erosion of this important plant species. For conserving the species, it is critical to develop an efficient in vitro regeneration protocol for rapid multiplication of large number of regenerants. Leaf explants, cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of thidiazuron (TDZ) (0.5, 1, 2 µM), showed significant difference in bud sprouting and adventitious shoot induction. The highest shoot bud formation was recorded on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 µM TDZ. Shoot tip necrosis (STN), observed after first subculture of shoot buds in same medium, increased in severity with subculture time. Application of calcium (4 mM) and boron (0.1 mM) in combination with kinetin (10 µM) in the subculture medium significantly reduced the intensity of STN. On an average eight shoots/explant were produced by alleviating this problem. ISSR marker analysis revealed monomorphic banding pattern between progenies and parents, indicating the true to type nature of the clones and its parents.