Effects of different media strengths and hormone concentrations on in-vitro regeneration of Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn

The importance of Vitellaria paradoxa has necessitated its inclusion in the ongoing afforestation project which requires mass production of its seedlings. The shea-butter tree produces oil-rich seeds that are important to cosmetic and food and nutrition industries. It is a deciduous tree which could survive in the dry-savannah and help withstand desert encroachment. However, overexploitation of its timber for firewood and charcoal production made it vulnerable. In-vitro propagation of this species could be a viable means towards its mass propagation. Two plant-hormones: Gibberellic Acid (GA3) and Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP) were used to grow the plant in different combinations making up six treatments (A-F) with 6 replicates in each group. The combinations include 1.5/0, 1.5/1.0, 1.5/1.5, 2.0/0, 2.0/1.0, 2.0/1.5 mg/L of GA3/BAP, which were used to grow 2cm nodal cuttings of the V. paradoxa on half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) media. Treatment F (with 2.0/1.5 mg/L GA3/BAP) produced the highest number of leaves (2.4 ± 0.6, 3.2 ± 0.8) and longest shoot length (1.1 ± 0.3 cm, 1.4 ± 0.5 cm) at 4 and 8 Weeks After Inoculation (WAI), respectively. The results of this study showed that application of growth- enhancing hormones for the regeneration of important tree species could provide means for their mass propagation so as to meet the need for afforestation projects. Keywords: Vitellaria paradoxa, Afforestation, In-vitro propagation, Mass propagation.