CONVENTIONAL GERMINATION AND MICROPROPAGATION OF Desplatsia dewevrei (De Wild. & Th. Durand)

ABSTRACT

Desplatsia dewevrei is a scarce West African plant species commonly referred to as “bush okra.” Indigenous people use D. dewevrei chiefly in making delicacies; however, a few herbalists use the plant parts as medicine. Traditional ethnobotanical knowledge underscores the therapeutic uses of Desplatsia dewevrei. D. dewevrei, with its palatable seeds, which could be a valuable source of nutrients and energy, in regions suffering from protein-energy undernourishment. Plant tissue culture encompasses the in vitro cultivation of isolated plant cells, tissues, and organs under sterile (axenic) conditions to regenerate and propagate complete plants. The harvested explant materials were washed with detergent under a running tap water before taking to the lamina flow chamber for disinfection. Small pieces of plants (explants) are used as source material to establish cells and tissues in vitro. The results obtained from Desplatsia dewevrei explants gotten from field-grown sources typically harbouring significant microbial populations and other contaminants. Eradication of these contaminants prior to inoculation serves as an essential step for successful tissue culture. An efficient sterilization protocol for Desplatsia dewevrei was established, 2,4-D at 1.0 ppm and BAP at 0.25 ppm gave the highest callus formation from the leaf of Desplatsia dewevrei. Notably, the micro-propagation method, employing a combination of sterilants for optimal decontamination and a defined culture medium, offers a promising approach for the rapid and controlled multiplication of this valuable medicinal plant.