Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is a native crop to North India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Currently grows throughout the tropics. Fruits, seeds and roots are used for human consumption and their stems are used for animal feed. The species has become very important because contain 18 of the 20 amino acid that the human body required and is one of the plant species with higher seed oil content, between 30-40%. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro germination of zygotic embryos of M. oleifera and to select genotypes by their in vitro survival. For the embryo rescue, seeds were disinfected in 70% ethanol (v/v) for 3 min and 50% sodium hypochlorite (v/v) for 20 min followed by successive rinses with sterile water. The seed coats were removed and zigotic embryo was rescued. Embryos were transferred to Murashige and Skoog (MS) culture medium with macronutrients diluted at 25% and cultured in both, dark and light conditions, at 25±1ºC. After 14 days an 88% and 77% of germination in dark and light conditions was obtained, respectively. These results are the first reports of in vitro germination of M. oleifera in Chile and show the ability to generate a culture protocol to enhance future nutraceutical uses in the Country.

Biography

Priscila Carteshas completed her Doctorate degree at the age of 29 years from the University of Concepción, Chile. She is Director at Vitroflora Austral Ltda. managing the scientific area of the company. She has participated in more than 10 papers in reputed journals and has attended several conferences en the Forest biotechnology area, especially in plant tissue culture issue.