Soyabean meal (SBM), the major protein source in feeds in sub-Saharan Africa, is in short supply. The shortage is a major constraint to intensified animal production to meet increased demand hence the dire need to search for alternatives. Kigelia africana, Mumisops zeyheri, Terminalia sericea and Ximenia caffra are indigenous fruit bearing trees (IFBTs) whose seeds’ potential as alternative protein sources in feeds were evaluated. The evaluation consisted of an initial physico-chemical characterization of the seeds followed by determining in vitro the safety of seed oils on cell lines. Based on the physico-chemical and in vitro evaluation, the most suitable seed was selected, defatted and its meal used as a dietary substitute to SBM in the in vivo trials using adult and weanling male Sprague Dawley rats. The T. sericea seed yield was not viable. Chemically K. africana and X. caffra seed demonstrated potential as protein sources in feeds. M. zeyheri seed demonstrated potential as an energy source. The IFBTs seeds oil yield surpassed that of some traditional oilseed crops. Oleic and linoleic acid were the major fatty acids contained in the oils. In vitro, K. africana, M. zeyheri and X. caffra seed oils suppressed Caco-2 and HEK-293 cell proliferation without causing cell death. X. caffra seed, deemed the most suitable, was defatted and its seed meal used in the in vivo trials. In mature rats, dietary substitution of SBM with the defatted X. caffra seed meal did not affect (P > 0.05) dry matter intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen absorption and retention. In weanling rats, the defatted X. caffra seed meal had no effect on termination (body mass at the end of the feeding trial) and empty carcass mass and linear growth of the rats. Metabolic substrate storage, fasting blood glucose concentration and the general health profile of the growing rats were not altered by dietary X. caffra seed meal. The defatted X. caffra seed meal increased the mass of the stomach and small intestine (P = 0.0071; P = 0.0001) of rats on the test diet where a 100% dietary crude protein (CP) from SBM was substituted by CP from the defatted X. caffra seed meal. Defatted X. caffra seed meal could substitute SBM in rat and possibly monogastrics feeds without compromising digestibility, nitrogen balance, growth and general health.

Catasetum fimbriatum (Morren) Lindl. é uma orquídea estudada no Laboratório de Fisiologia Vegetal do IBUSP desde 1990. As plantas deste gênero, quando incubadas in vitro no escuro, apresentam crescimento contínuo do caule na ausência de qualquer regulador de crescimento. Quando as gemas laterais dos caules estiolados são isoladas e incubadas na presença de luz, originam novas plantas, constituindo-se, desta forma, uma técnica relativamente simples e geneticamente segura de clonagem de plantas. Baseando-se no conhecimento consolidado com esta planta, procurou-se por um lado aprofundar conhecimentos básicos a respeito dos processos envolvidos na indução do crescimento caulinar em C. fimbriatum, e por outro, tomando-a como parâmetro de referência, estendê-los às plantas de Cymbidium e Cattleya labiata tratadas com etileno, giberelina (GA) e óxido nítrico (NO). Foram utilizadas plantas micropropagadas de C. fimbriatum e Cymbidium, enquanto as de Cattleya foram obtidas por meio de germinação assimbiótica. Após 120 dias de incubação, as plantas foram transferidas para o escuro e tratadas com diferentes concentrações de GA, paclobutrazol (PA), um inibidor de biossíntese de GA, etileno, 1-metilciclopropeno (1-MCP), um inibidor da ação do etileno, e NO. No 30º e 60º dia de incubação no escuro, foram mensurados o número de nós formados e de gemas laterais liberadas, bem como o tamanho e as massas fresca e seca dos estolões. Análises dos teores de etileno e CO2 acumulados nos frascos foram determinadas por meio de cromatografia gasosa. Os três gêneros estudados apresentaram respostas diferentes quanto ao estiolamento. Nitidamente, sob as condições utilizadas, as plantas de Cattleya labiata mostraram-se recalcitrantes à formação de estolões e à quebra da dominância apical, mantendo inalterado o crescimento foliar ao longo de todo o período de tratamento. Não obstante os caules de C. fimbriatum e Cymbidium tenham estiolado conspicuamente, na primeira planta eles se formaram na base do pseudobulbo, enquanto na segunda houve a retomada da atividade meristemática apical já nos primeiros 30 dias de incubação. Os tratamentos com GA promoveram significativamente o alongamento caulinar em C. fimbriatum, enquanto que nas plantas de Cymbidium a concentração mais elevada inibiu esse processo. Os tratamentos com PA e 1-MCP reduziram o alongamento caulinar em ambos os gêneros. O etileno aumentou a liberação de gemas laterais e a ramificação das mesmas em C. fimbriatum e promoveu incremento no tamanho do caule principal e no número de segmentos nodais em Cymbidium. Os efeitos mais marcantes da aplicação de NO ocorreram após 30 dias de tratamento, refletindo positivamente sobre o alongamento caulinar e o número de segmentos nodais em C. fimbriatum. Nas plantas de Cymbidium, contudo, a presença de NO inibiu esse processo. No que se refere à emissão de etileno e CO2, observou-se uma variação acentuada entre os gêneros e os tratamentos realizados. Quanto ao etileno, a liberação mais elevada deu-se nos tratamentos com etileno nas três plantas estudadas. A liberação deste hormônio foi mais proeminente nas plantas de C. fimbriatum do que nas de Cymbidium, o que, em princípio, poderia ser relacionado à rápida retomada da atividade meristemática nestas últimas e a manutenção da dominância apical, tendo aparentemente o oposto ocorrido com plantas de C. fimbriatum. Embora ambas originem estolões, os meristemas envolvidos comportam-se de forma distintas, podendo ser separados em três grupos. Nos primeiros dois se enquadrariam os gêneros Catasetum e Cymbidium, com inibição do crescimento foliar e formação de estolões a partir apenas da atividade do MAC (Cymbidium), ou a partir da liberação de gemas laterais (Catasetum), enquanto no terceiro grupo se enquadraria o gênero Cattleya, com manutenção do crescimento foliar e não formação de caules estiolados. / Catasetum fimbriatum (Morren) Lindl. is an epiphytic orchid that has been studied since 1990 in our Laboratory. Plants of this genus have the peculiarity of being easily propagated, using the lateral buds of its etiolated shoot. This is possible because the shoot apical meristem shows a sustained activity when kept in darkness, resulting in an expressive shoot elongation. When the etiolated nodal segments are incubated under light, they rapidly form new plants. This micropropagation process dismisses the application of any plant growth regulators, representing an efficient in vitro multiplication method. The aim of this study was to apply the existing knowledge about the physiology of dark-grown C. fimbriatum plants, to other two genera, Cymbidium and Cattleya, intending to characterize the role of ethylene, gibberellin and nitric oxide in the signaling of shoot elongation process of these plants. C. fimbriatum and Cymbidium plants were obtained by micropropagation technique, using etiolated nodal segments, whereas Cattleya plants were obtained by assimbiotic germination. After 3 months, these plants were incubated in the dark under different levels of concentration of gibberellin (GA), ethylene, nitric oxid (NO), paclobutrazol (PA, inhibitor of gibberellin biosynthesis) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP, inhibitor of ethylene perception),. After 30 and 60 days, the treatments effects were measured through the number of nodal segments of the stolons, shoot size, and wet and dry mass. Ethylene and CO2 contents were determined using gas chromatography. The three studied genera showed different responses to dark incubation and treatments. Cattleya was not able to recover shoot apical meristem (SAM) activity and its phenotype remained unaltered, maintaining foliar growth until the end of the treatment. C. fimbriatum originated stolons from the base of the pseudobulb, forming etiolated shoots. On the other hand, Cymbidium showed a different meristematic activity, giving rise to an elongated stem from the apical end of the pseudobulb within the first 30 days of the experiment. GA promoted a significant increase in stem elongation in C. fimbriatum whereas in Cymbidium plants this parameter was inhibited at the highest level of hormone. PA and 1-MCP reduced stem elongation in both C. fimbriatum and Cymbidium plants. Ethylene treatment increased the development of lateral buds and their branching in C. fimbriatum and increased the size of Cymbidium etiolated stem and the number of node segments. The most conspicuous effects of the application of NO occurred after 30 days of treatment, increasing shoot elongation and number of node segments in C. fimbriatum and reducing these parameters in Cymbidium plants. With regard to ethylene and CO2 emission the different genera presented different responses. C. fimbriatum, Cattleya and Cymbidium showed increasing hormone liberation within the ethylene treatments. Furthermore, C. fimbriatum showed conspicuously higher ethylene and CO2 emission than Cymbidium plants. When incubated in the absence of light, the three orchid genera showed distinct behavior, separated into three groups: (1) etiolated stem formation only from SAM activity, and development of reduced leaves (Cymbidium) (2) etiolated stem formation from lateral buds and development of reduced leaves (C. fimbriatum), (3) absence of etiolated stems, with maintenance of foliar growth (Cattleya).

A poliploidia induzida é uma ferramenta valiosa para o melhoramento genético de plantas, resultando em genótipos com características superiores aos diploides correspondentes. Considerando a importância da cultura de eucalipto para o setor florestal e para a economia brasileira, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo estabelecer um protocolo de poliploidização in vitro para eucalipto, utilizando a espécie Eucalyptus urophylla ST Blake. Segmentos nodais contendo gemas laterais de plântulas desenvolvidas in vitro foram utilizados como explantes para os testes de indução. Os tratamentos avaliados consistiram na imersão e agitação dos explantes em soluções de colchicina nas concentrações: 0; 0,125% e 0,250% em tempos de exposição de 12 e 24 horas e posterior inoculação in vitro em meio de cultura para multiplicação. Após 60 dias, as brotações emitidas foram analisadas por citometria de fluxo e constatou-se indivíduos diploides, tetraploides e mixoploides. Estas foram micropropagadas para a obtenção de mudas clonais ao final do processo. As mudas obtidas foram avaliadas por meio de análises morfológicas organográficas e anatômicas para verificar possíveis alterações resultantes da poliploidização in vitro. Os tratamentos promoveram a indução de 16 poliploides, sendo 11 mixoploides, quatro tetraploides e um octaplóide. A eficência máxima de indução obtida foi de 28% de poliploides no tratamento com 0,125% de colchicina por 12 horas sob agitação, com a obtenção tanto de mixoploides como de tetraploides puros. O protocolo geral de micropropagação utilizado, apesar de algumas perdas durante as etapas, garantiu a obtenção de altos percentuais de mudas clonais inteiramente tetraploides, comprovando a eficiência da técnica no isolamento de setores poliploides. A análise morfo-anatômica das mudas mostrou diferenças significativas em relação às características estomáticas, apontando este tipo de análise como indicador de poliploidização na separação preliminar dos indivíduos. A estrutura anatômica das folhas, no entanto, não sofreu modificações significativas, com exceção da espessura e área foliar da epiderme adaxial. A análise de componentes principais realizada para algumas variáveis morfo-anatômicas demonstrou que, apesar da análise estatística não ter apontado diferenças significativas, existe uma tendência em agrupar os genótipos diploides e tetraploides, diferenciando-os principalmente em relação às características estomáticas, espessura foliar, área do mesofilo, parênquimas paliçádico e lacunoso e espaço intercelular. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho instigam a continuidade do estudo em diversas possibilidades de abordagens, como o estudo do desenvolvimento das mudas em condições de campos, anatomia da madeira e avaliação do comportamento meiótico. / The induced polyploidy is a valuable tool for genetic improvement of plants, resulting in genotypes with superior characteristics to their corresponding diploid. Considering the Eucalyptus culture importance to the forest sector and Brazilian economy, the aim of this study was establish an in vitro polyploidy protocol for eucalyptus, using the species Eucalyptus urophylla ST Blake. Nodal segments containing lateral buds developed from in vitro seedlings were used as explants for induction tests. The treatments tested consisted of soak and shake the explants in colchicine solutions at the concentrations: 0; 0.125% and 0.250% in soaking by periods of 12 or 24 hours and subsequent in vitro inoculation in culture medium for multiplication. After 60 days, the emitted shoots were classified by flow cytometry in levels of ploidy (diploid, tetraploid and mixoploids) and were subsequently micropropagated to obtain clonal seedlings at the end of the process. The clonal seedlings were evaluated using morphological and anatomical analysis to check the possible changes resulting from the in vitro polyploidy. The treatments promoted the induction of sixteen polyploids, being eleven mixoploids, four tetraploid and one octaploid. The maximum induction efficiency was obtained in 28% of polyploidy in the treatment with 0.125% of colchicine by soaking period of 12 hours, having obtained both mixoploids and pure tetraploids. The general protocol of micropropagation used, although presenting some losses during the steps, guaranted the inducing of high percentages of enterelly tetraploid, proving the efficiency of micropropagation in the isolation of polyploid sectors. The morpho-anatomical analysis of the poliploidy seedlings showed significant differences in relation to stomatal characteristics, indicating this type of analysis as polyploidy indicator in the preliminary separation of individuals. The anatomical structure of the leaves, however, did not change significantly, except for the thickness and leaf area of the adaxial epidermis. The principal component analysis (PCA) performed for some morphological and anatomical variables demonstrated that despite the statistical analysis did not have pointed out significant differences, there is a tendency to group the diploid and tetraploid genotypes, differentiating them mainly in relation to stomatal characteristics, leaf thickness, mesophyll area, palisade and spongy parenchyma areas and intercellular space. The results of this work instigate to continue the study in several possibilities of approaches, such as the study of the development of seedlings in fields conditions, wood anatomy and study of meiotic behavior.

The objectives of this study were to develop an in vitro direct adventitious bud induction and an organogenic callus induction and shoot regeneration system via floral organ segments culture for bromeliads, moreover, explore the effect of auxin on plantlet elongation of Guzmania. And further, apply the above micropropagation system to physical and chemical methods to induce somaclonal variances of bromeliad plantlets in vitro for mutation breeding. The explant sources of bromeliads and the components of culture medium were studied to develop a micropropagation system for bromeliads. The results indicated that the 1/3MS basal medium supplemented with a combination of 1.0 mg l-1 BA + 0.5-1.0 mg l-1 NAA, or a combination of 3.0 mg l-1 BA + 0.5 mg l-1 NAA, showed the highest frequency of direct initiation of adventitious buds derived from shoot apex and lateral bud explants of Aechmea fulgens var. fulgens and Guzmania 'Focus'. The best results of adventitious buds induction of the both species were found in the lower lateral bud explants, at 47.5% and 35%, respectively. In addition, the adventitious buds began to form on day 16 after the G. 'Focus' decapitated plantlets had been cultured in medium supplemented with 3.0 mg l-1 BA + 0.5 mg l-1 NAA. However, this phenomenon did not occur in case of undecapitated explants, where only protruding nodules appeared. Petal- and ovary-derived calli of A. fasciata and G. 'Hilda' were induced on 1/2MS basal medium supplemented with 1.0-1.5 mg l-1 2,4-D in combination with 1.0 or 0.5 mg l-1 NAA. Organogenic calli were cultured on medium with 1.0 mg l-1 NAA and 0.5 mg l-1 TDZ could be induced to differentiate and regenerate the adventitious buds. Furthermore, the number of adventitious buds proliferating at the base of the plantlets derived from G. 'Hilda' floral organs, cultured in media with different concentrations of IAA, IBA, NAA, and 8-azaadenine, was only 1-2 adventitious buds individually. This result shows that auxin can indeed suppress cytokinin-effects. The influence on plantlet elongation was greatest in the treatments using 0.5 mg l-1 NAA and 1.0 mg l-1 NAA. After 4 months culture, plantlets grew to 5.73 and 5.62 cm in height, that was 2.22 and 1.95 cm higher than the control, respectively. Plantlets of A. fasciata hardened under the middle (50 £gmol m-2s-1) light intensity condition had a higher survival rate, 95%, than that hardened at a low light intensity (1 £gmol m-2s-1; 17.5%). The maximum number of newly developing roots, up to 4.15 per shoot, was also observed at the same light intensity treatment. During transplantation, plantlets growing in coir fiber showed the best results in terms of plant growth within 6 months ex vitro culture. The average length of the plantlets was 22.0 cm, and an average of 19.3 leaves per plantlet was achieved. When calli of G. 'Hilda' treated by sodium azide, the survival rate was 0%. The survival rate of decapitated plantlet explants treated with 0.5 mM sodium azide for 60 minutes was 51.3%, about half-lethal dose. In addition to the survival rates of decapitated plantlet explants of A. fasciata, G. 'Hilda', G. 'Cherry', G. 'Luna' and G. 'Focus' irradiated by £^-ray showed 74.2-100% with the exception of the G. 'Focus' irradiated by 15 Gy, which dropped to 45.0%. At present, mutant plantlets showed a great deal of chimeras in leaf and were transplanted to potting media.

Disa comprises 163 species, 131 of which occur in South Africa (SA). The genus is distributed across winter- and summer-rainfall areas, but few species transverse both climatic regions. Species are therefore regarded as winter-rainfall or summer-rainfall endemics - yet release their seeds in autumn, irrespective of provenance. Disa contributes 40 % of threatened Orchidaceae in SA, with half of the local species requiring conservation initiatives. In vitro seed germination is a potential conservation tool for producing large numbers of genetically diverse plants in relatively short periods. However, only 11 winter-rainfall Disa species are easily germinated ex situ. Studies were therefore undertaken on summer-rainfall taxa, which are ungerminated in vitro, in an effort to define their germination parameters. This thesis describes mechanisms that control germination in Disa and establishes practical propagation methods for seed culture. Two seed types occur in Disa; i) comparatively large, pale and pyriform seeds in members of the D. uniflora sub-c1ade, which populate streamside habitats under conditions of winter-rainfall maxima, and ii) smaller, variously brown and fusiform seeds in the remainder of the genus. Seed morphometrics distinguished seed types, although embryo dimensions were similar. Testa continuity, which is disrupted in the large seeds, also supported separation. Typically, small seeds are ungerminated in vitro, whilst large seeds germinated readily. Increased seed size did not necessarily impart increased germ inability, as several germinable, small-seeded species exist - being winter-rainfall species Attempts to establish in vitro germinability revealed that increased water availability and charcoal supplementation promoted germination in intractable species. The control of germination was therefore proposed as a trade-off between water availability and the presence of phyto-inhibitors - two features typical of seeds exhibiting water-impermeable dormancy. Three germinability categories were recognized; i) easily germinable species, ii) poorly germinable species through media manipulation, and iii) ungerminated species. Germination of immature seed in the absence of media modification was comparable to mature seed germination under modified conditions, providing evidence of the role of an impermeable seed testa in regulating germination. Testa impermeability in mature, small-seeded species was demonstrated using aqueous EVANS' blue dye and was linked to i) testa integrity and ii) increased levels of leachable phenolics (LPC) - which are hydrophobic and phytotoxic. In addition, this research revealed an impervious and elaborate embryo carapace in small seeds. Large-seeded species were highly permeable at dehiscence, with perforated testae and negligible LPC. Germinability was ultimately defined by a significant regression with LPC. Phenolic deposition increased exponentially with increasing seed maturity and reflected decreased permeability and the development of testa colouration. The testa precludes the use of viability stains such as nc and FDA, unless rendered permeable through scarification. This was achieved using NaOCI. Viability and germinability percentages did not correlate well for the small-seeded Disa species, indicating that i) the methods used to break dormancy are inadequate, ii) additional factors may be acting in concert with the testa to regulate germination and iii) that the determination of mature Disa seed viability is ineffective. As an alternative, the germination potential of immature seed was estimated as the ratio between the proportion of embryos stained with TTC and the proportion of seeds permeable to EVANS' blue. Attempts to relieve water-impermeable dormancy in Disa resulted in the formulation of a dual-phase protocol - with the specific aim of increasing water availability to the embryo. Dual-phase cultures comprised a solid, charcoal-rich medium overlaid with a reduced strength, liquid medium fraction of the same type. The solid fraction negated the influence of leached phenols and allowed protocorms to establish polarity, whilst the fluid fraction increased water availability. The dual-phase protocol allowed germination of nine summer-rainfall Disa species, usually in percentages that approximated their estimated germination potential. For the remaining species, germination is controlled by more complex factors. Large seeds are atypical in containing starch, the hydrolysis of which facilitated their rapid, autonomous germination. Small-seeded Disa species stored lipids and proteins and germinable species accumulated starch post-germination. The embryo protoplasts of all species contained appreciable amounts of soluble sugars, irrespective of germinability. However, decreased sucrose and increased fructose correlated significantly with decreased seed germinability. This study provides evidence of the nutritional value of mycotrophy, with endophytes liberating soluble carbohydrate and non-carbohydrate compounds upon lysis. However, few species were germinated symbiotically, suggesting that endophytes isolated from adult roots do not necessarily support germination in the same species. Similar endophytic fungi occur in Australian and Holarctic orchids. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

In South Africa, Eucalyptus breeding programmes are aimed at the selection of fastgrowing varieties, with appropriate wood characteristics and/or resistance to pests and diseases. However, the slow growth rate, long generation time and heterozygosity of trees make this a difficult task. Such problems may be overcome by the adoption of a biotechnological approach for plant propagation and modification. Towards this end, the aims of this investigation were to establish protocols for the micropropagation of Eucalyptus grandis and for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and subsequent plant regeneration of this important species. The usefulness of transformed cells and/or tissues is dependent upon the availability of methods for their regeneration into plants. Consequently, methods for plant regeneration via indirect organogenesis from leaf discs and cell suspension cultures were investigated. Organogenic calli were produced from leaf explants on MS medium with 16 mg.1-1 &l:em•calcltrate, 20 g.I-I sucrose, 1mg.I-I NAA and 0.05 mg.1--<1 BA. Shoots were induced on MS medium containing 1 mg.1-1 ZEA and 0.2 mg.1-1 IAA, and subsequently rooted on medium containing MS nutrients supplemented with 1 mg.1- 1 IAA. Cell suspension cultures were established but not regenerated via indirect organogenesis. Additionally, various media were investigated in order to obtain somatic embryos from cell suspension cultures. The MS media supplemented with 30 g.1-1 sucrose, 12 mg.1- 1 ABA and/or 40 g.1-1 PEG were found to be most suitable, resulting in the production of embryoids; germination results are not available at this stage. In order to establish methods for the transformation of both leaf discs and cell suspension cultures of Eucalyptus, a triparental mating was performed between Escherichia coli pnT119 (donor), A. tumefaciens LBA4404 (recipient), and E. coli HBI0l::pRK2013 (helper), resulting in the transconjugant LBA4404 (pnT119); insertion of the pJIT119 plasmid was demonstrated using agarose gel electrophoresis. The transconjugant CS8C1 (pMP90) (pJIT119) was also used. Protocols for the transformation of both leaf discs and cell suspension cultures were established, and resulted in the production of putatively transformed calli which were GUS positive and with stood selection on kanamycin (50 Ilg.mr1) and/or sulfadiazine (50 Ilg.mr1). Also, Southern blotting analysis indicated that the gene transfer process was successful. Due to difficulties in the regeneration of plants from transformed calli transgenic plants were not obtained. Future research strategies and applications of the developed protocols to Eucalyptus breeding programmes are discussed. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, 1994.

The herbal medicine trade is thriving in KwaZulu Natal with an ever-increasing number of people harvesting and trading in indigenous plants, especially those species with medicinal and/or magical properties. The number of plants harvested has increased whereas the size of the plants collected has decreased, resulting in low recruitment into wild populations. As a result of these two factors, species diversity has decreased. To this end, the aim of these investigations was to establish micropropagation protocols for the selected species i.e. Bowiea volubilis, Haworthia_ limifolia and Cryptocarya latifolia. In addition, hardening-off protocols were also developed. The bulbous plant, Bowiea volubilis, was propagated via organogenesis using the inflorescence stem. Bulblet formation occurred directly without an intervening callus phase. Bulblets were produced on explants on Linsmaier and Skoog (1965) (LS) medium containing 30 g.r' sucrose and either I mg.r' BAP and I mg.r' 2,4-D or 1 mg.r' BAP and 1 mg.r' NAA. Shoots and roots were induced upon transfer to the basal medium devoid of plant growth regulators. Regenerated plantlets were successfully hardened-off. Haworthia limifolia, a succulent, was propagated via direct somatic embryogenesis using leaf material. Embryo formation was induced on a modified Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) medium containing 20 g.r' sucrose and 1 - 5 mg.r' 2,4-D. secondary embryogenesis occurred when the explants were transferred to the basal medium supplemented with activated charcoal and devoid of growth hormones. Healthy plantlets, produced from secondary embryos, were transferred to pots and acclimatised to greenhouse conditions. A large proportion of the plantlets regenerated were vitrified and as a result, this problem was addressed by changing the medium composition or culture environment. Silica gel, when placed in the culture vessel, was the best treatment for reversal of the vitrified condition. The establishment of leaf and nodal segment cultures of Cryptocarya latifolia required extensive investigation of sterilants to reduce fungal contamination. Several fungicides were tested and a successful sterilisation protocol was established. A number of media were tested for the induction of dormant axillary buds and multiplication of shoots. The best medium for both bud induction and proliferation was MS medium containing 30 g.r1 sucrose and 1 mg.r1 BAP and 0.01 mg.r1 NAA. Callus cultures were established on MS medium containing 30 g.r1 sucrose and 3 mg.rl 2,4-D. These calli, however, were non-embryogenic. Application of the established protocols and future research strategies are discussed. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, 1995.

Due to over-exploitation of commonly-used medicinal plants, mainly from KwaZuluNatal, because of ever-increasing human population growth, many of the useful medicinal plants are becoming depleted in their natural habitats. Some species like Warburgia salutaris, which is currently declared very rare in the KwaZulu-Natal province, appear to be on the verge of extinction. In order to counteract this overexploitation, this study sought to provide information that could help resource users to grow these threatened species through ex situ conservation methods. A short list of heavily utilised medicinal tree specles was selected from the approximately 700 tree species indigenous to KwaZulu/Natal. The criteria considered for short listing were; life form, species scarcity, past population status and part used. A total of 23 species were short listed, but a subset of 12 species was selected based on the availability of fruits and seeds. The aim of short-listing was to work on a manageable number of commonly utilised medicinal tree species. The seed physiology and growth of these species were studied. With the exception of Erythrophleum lasianthum and Curtisia dentata, all of them had a moisture content of 2': 20 % (on a dry mass basis), which is indicative of a recalcitrant behaviour. However, it could not be concluded that these seeds were truly recalcitrant because desiccation sensitivity was not directly assessed. Using the triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) viability test, most of the seeds of the 12 species seemed to be of good quality. Results of the TTC test for seed viability were similar to results obtained v using direct germination for most species. Results of flotation test for seed viability were different from the results obtained using direct germination for most spcies. The pre-treatment which achieved the highest germination percentage in almost all the seed types was cracking the outer coverings. Cracking pre-treatment appeared to be efficient in enhancing the removal of some substances which might inhibit germination of seeds. Hot water and acid pre-treatments frequently reduced germination. Growth of young seedlings was assessed in terms of stem diameter, height, and leaf area under sun and shade. Seedling growth in terms of stem diameter and height of most species did not show any significant difference. One of the few species which showed statistically significant differences in stem diameter growth was Ekebergia capensis. It was found that 3 out of lO of the species showed statistically significant differences in height growth. Two of the statistically significant differences in height occured on seedlings in the sun while one had statistically significant difference in the 40% shadecloth while 7 did not. Significant differences in leaf area occured on 7 out of lO species. Of these, 4 species had higher growth in the shade than in the sun while 3 had higher growth in the sun than in the shade. Generally, it appears that young developing seedlings establish themselves well under shade environment; this could be because most of the species used in this study are forest species. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, 1996.

Micropropagation methods are often used to supplement existing clonal programmes for Eucalyptus species. However, genotypic differences among clones require the implementation of clone-specific protocols, an expensive and labour-intensive exercise. Hence, this study aimed at determining high-yielding hybrid-specific rather than clone-specific, micropropagation protocols for E. grandis x nitens (GN), E. grandis x nitens (NH), and E. grandis x urophylla (GU). Different conditions for surface sterilisation, bud-break (3 protocols, 2 media), multiplication (4 media), elongation (2 protocols) and rooting (4 media) were tested. A single successful surface sterilisation approach was possible for all clones of the tested hybrids (0.0-11.8% contamination, 0.0-22.9% necrosis). It involved rinsing nodal explants in a fungicide mixture (lg/l Benlate, 1g/1 boric acid, 0.5ml/1 Bravo, Tween 20) for 15 minutes followed by calcium hypochlorite (10g/l with Tween 20) for three minutes. Results at each culture stage were dependent on genotypes, and results indicated here represent ranges in values among the clones of each hybrid. The highest bud-break values for GN clones (87-90%) and NH clones (17-75%) were achieved on a medium containing MS, 0.1mg/1 biotin, 0.1mg/l calcium pantothenate, 0.04mg/1 NAA, 0.11mg/l BAP and 0.05mg/1 kinetin. In GU clones, bud-break values on this medium (84-97%) were not significantly different to those achieved directly on a multiplication medium (80-91%) (MS, 0.1 mg/l biotin, 0.1 mg/l calcium pantothenate, 0.2mg/l BAP, 0.01mg/1 NAA). Shoot multiplication yields for GN clones (4-13 shoots/bud) and GU clones (2-6 shoots/bud) were achieved on a medium consisting of MS, 0.1mg/1 biotin, 0.1 mg/l calcium pantothenate, 0.2mg/1 BAP and 0.01 mg/l NAA. As genotypic effects were highly significant among NH clones, a single multiplication medium for all clones of this hybrid could not be determined. The best method of elongation for clones of all three hybrids involved culturing shoots on MS, 0.1 mg/l calcium pantothenate, 0.1mg/1 biotin, 0.35mg/1 NAA, 0.1mg/l kinetin and 0.1mg/1 IBA, under photoperiod conditions, rather than total darkness, for 6 weeks. This resulted in 82.3-86.6% elongation and shoot lengths increasing by 22.9-35.2 mm for GN clones, 80.2-82.3 % elongation and an increase in length of 24.7-32.2 mm for NH clones and 70.8-78.1 % elongation, and shoot elongation of 21.6-29.3 mm for GU clones from passage 1-2. For all the above stages, media contained 20/25 g/l sucrose and 3.5g/l Gelrite, and cultures were maintained at 25°C ± 2°C day/ 21°C night with a 16 h light/ 8 h dark photoperiod (PPFD 66µmol/m2/s). In terms of rooting, cultures on different media were initially subjected to a 72 hour period of total darkness at room temperature, then a 16 h light/8 h dark photoperiod (PPFD 37µmol/m2 /s) at 24°C day/ 21°C night for 7 days. This was followed by a 16 h light/ 8 h dark photoperiod (PPFD 66µmol/m2/s) at 25°C ± 2°C day/ 21°C night for 21 days. Tested clones of the three hybrids were all rooted successfully (56-93% rooting in GN clones, 36-76% rooting in NH clones and 46-96% rooting in GU clones) on a medium containing ¼ MS, 0.1 mg/l biotin, 0.1 mg/l calcium pantothenate, 0.1mg/l IBA, 0.22g/1 CaCI2 .2H20, 0.185g/l MgS04.7H2O, 15g/l sucrose and 3.5g/1 Gelrite. Predicted yields from the established protocol are also presented (168-667 plants of E. grandis x nitens (GN), 35- 854 plants of E. grandis x nitens (NH) and 54-349 plants of E. grandis x urophylla from 100 initial nodal explants, depending on the clone). Hence, the established protocols can be used successfully for some of the clones, but the implementation of specific media and methods to obtain high yields may still be necessary for certain clones. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

For the South African forestry industry, the patula pine (Pinus patula) is the most commercially important softwood species. A pine clonal programme has yet to be fully implemented in this country and at present much effort is being made to establish clonal plantings of selected trees. In order to accomplish this, it is essential that satisfactory commercially viable propagation technologies be developed for this species. This study examined the possibilities and constraints of three different in vitro systems for mass propagation of rare and important P. patula material. Seed germination and sterilisation techniques were developed for adventitious bud and somatic embryogenesis experimentation. Adventitious buds were initiated from excised 'mature P. patula embryos cultured on LM medium containing 5 mg 1-1 BA. Although, between 50 and 60% of the embryo explants produced adventitious buds, only 3-5 buds per explant actually developed further to form distinct shoots. The adventitious shoots elongated slowly (±8 mm in 2 months) on LM medium, containing 10 g 1-1 activated charcoal. Axillary buds were induced on 10 week-old juvenile shoots, after the development of an effective surface sterilisation procedure, using 0.02% HgCL2. The effect of removing the apex and trimming the needles on bud induction was significant. Dwarf shoots elongated at a rate of 25 mm in 5 weeks. Rooting studies conducted on juvenile P. patula shoots indicated that the most effective treatment was wounding the shoot base and placing the shoot in composted bark growing medium, under a greenhouse mist regime. Rooting percentages were low (50%). Included in this study is the first successful production of somatic pro-embryos from mature Pinus patula embryos. Calli were produced on LM induction medium containing 2 mg 1-1 2,4-D. Cultures were first placed in the dark for 4 weeks and then transferred to a 16 h photoperiod for a further 2 weeks, after which Stage 1 embryogenic cells were observed. When calli were placed on LM maturation medium, containing 12 mg 1-1 ABA, for a further 6-8 weeks, pro-embryo structures (maximum of 7 pro-embryos per callus) were detected embedded In the callus mass. Hence, investigations into the development of protocols for the micropropagation of Pinus patula, were undertaken. Two major constraints for applying in vitro techniques to the commercial production of pine were identified: the poor yield of shoots and pro-embryos and the length of time taken for plantlets to be produced. This study, however, provides some fundamental knowledge and background work required by tree breeders who wish to implement biotechnological techniques in the selection and improvement of P. patula genotypes. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1993.