In Vitro Re Generation and Marker Assisted Evaluation of Genetic Fidelity In Endangered Tree Species Moringa Peregrina (Forsk) Fiori

Moringa peregrina is a native plant in the United Arab Emirates; it is called “Shua”.It is an endangered species with important nutritive and medicinal properties. It shows high adaptability to the arid condition with short germination time after irrigation. Unmanaged grazing and slow regeneration rate after browsing leads to the endangerment of the species causing erosion in biodiversity. One way to protect these rare species is by multiplying the planting material through tissue culture system and re-introducing at the habitat. Micro propagation is an in vitro method used for plant clonal multiplication under controlled condition. This technique allows conserving the genetic characteristics of the plants, which are usually affected by environmental restrictions. In the present study different parts of M. Peregrine, explants will be used for standardizing the mass propagation. Direct organogenesis of nodal explants collected from the in vitro germinated Seedlings were inoculated in MS media supplemented with different hormone treatment (TDZ, BA and NAA) with several concentrations. Thidiazuron treatment in the media observed to be better than BA and NAA combinations. It has been observed that media supplemented with TDZ 1 µM induced an average of 2.4 axillary shoots per explant. For callusing the results show that MS media supplemented with 2, 4-D 2 μM/l and TDZ 0.5 μM/l found to have the highest callusing percentage and size. The rooting of in vitro developed plantlets obtained from nodal ex plants were induced through media supplemented with BA in combination with NAA and IBA. The number of roots was high in BA and NAA medium compare to BA and IBA. The genetic fidelity of the clones produced from the in vitro protocol was assessed using molecular markers. The similarity index between the progenies and parent was above 94.9%.This shows that in vitro developed plantlets are identical with its mother plant. This will facilitate standardizing future conservation programs to limit the erosion of the genetic biodiversity in Moringa peregrina and similar species