In vitro propagation of Khaya Ivorensis from coppiced shoots

Khaya ivorensis, commonly known as African mahogany and belonging to the Meliaceae family is a medium hardwood tree. In Malaysia, this exotic species is planted along roadsides and in plantations. It is well known for its high quality wood. It is also used for traditional medicine against malaria and also for the prevention of the disease in Cameroon (Tepongning et al. 2011). Khaya ivorensis grows fast and produces large quantities of seeds but of limited germination capacity. Therefore, tissue culture technique, preferably using trees with good traits, can be an alternative method for germplasm conservation and also clonal propagation of this species. In this regard, coppicing shoots from hedged stumps are more recommendable as they are more juvenile and easier to be micropropagated compared with shoots taken directly from tree crown. The purpose of this paper is to provide preliminary information regarding the utilisation of coppiced shoots for in vitro micropropagating of K. ivorensis