Tissue culture of a mature fig tree (Ficus carica L.) has been successfully carried out. The shoot tips (explants) from mature trees were removed and washed in running tap water for one hour. These shoot tips were sterilized with 0.1% mercuric chloride solution for five minutes and washed thoroughly in distilled water. The innermost shoot tip was removed and cultured in Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.01mg/1 napthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 10% coconut milk. The medium was maintained with pH 5.8 before autoclaving. It was incubated at 25°C and 3 kilolux light supplied by fluorescent tubes (Philips) for sixteen hours/day. The established shoot tips were kept in the same medium for 6 more weeks. It was subcultured in MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 10% coconut milk at an interval of every eight weeks. Six to eight multiple microshoots developed after the fifth subculture.
The flasks with microshoots were kept in room temperature for two weeks before rooting for acclimatization, hardening and change to autotrophic mode of nutrition.
Rooting of these microshoots was done in non-sterile sand. Sand was cleaned thoroughly by washing several times in water and sun dried for two days. The sand was wetted evenly with 10% water in a box. The microshoots were cut into one inch long pieces and dipped in 1 mg/l NAA for five minutes. They were planted in sand and covered with polythene sheet. The box temperature was maintained at 30°C, 80% humidity and 825 kilolux sun-light intensity. The roots developed within 3 weeks period. They were left in the same box for two more weeks to develop healthy roots. In this way micropropagation of fig tree has been possible for field plantation.
Key words: tissue culture, shoot tips, subculture, sand, microshoots.
Correspondence: H.K. Saiju, National Herbarium & Plant Labs., Plant Research Division, Department of Plant Resources, Godavari, G.P.O. Box 3708, Kathmandu, Nepal
Telefax: +977-1-290549