Micropropagation of the endangered Aloe polyphylla

A rapid propagation protocol was establish for the highly endangered Aloe p olyphylla (Schonland ex Pillans). Seed was germinated in vitro on Murashige & Skoog 1962 medium [6] with or without sucrose. Plantlets were cultured o n medium containing benzyladenine only, or a combination of BA and NAA. Aft er initial problems with browning, the explants rapidly formed axillary and adventitious buds. Maximal shoot formation was obtained on MS medium conta ining 1.0 mg l(-1) BA. Some shoots rooted spontaneously on MS medium, but t he rooting percentage was improved with a 0.5 mg l(-1) IBA supplement. Root ed plantlets were acclimatized to greenhouse conditions. The success of thi s project indicates that micropropagation can be a useful tool in the conse rvation of this endangered species of the genus Aloe.