In vitro propagation of the bay laurel (Laurus nobilis.L) in Morocco

Abstract

Laurus nobilis L. is among the species which are most threatened by massive degradation in Morocco. The multiplication by seed or by cuttings gives very low percentages of recovery that is insufficient to meet the demand of growing market. In vitro culture proves to be a tremendous asset to solve this problem. Our work has focused on the study of seed germination of this species and its multiplication from microcuttings. Finally, we studied the ac-climatization ability of the plantlets resulting from this germination. The study of the germination, via the further measurement of the length of the aerial part and the roots and the number of axillary buds for nine weeks, showed that the MS basal medium was more efficient than media 1/2M.S and WPM. Among the eight tested hormones, IAA yielded the best growth of the plantlets. Hormonal combination of NAA and kinetin resulted into a per-centage of the greatest success in reaching 67 % micropropagation. The study also revealed that the MS basal medium in the presence of the IAA plants can acclimate most easily in two types of substrates with improved development in the peat alone.