Optimizing light intensity for propagation of Moringa peregrina

Moringa peregrina is one of the endemic drought tolerant tree species growing in Southeast part of Iran. In spite of its high importance based on medicinal، environmental، industrial and nutritional properties، due to intensive seed harvesting by local residents، the species is exposed to genetic erosion. Asexual propagation of superior genotypes of the species is scheduled by research institutes in order to develop its habitats. Three levels of light intensity، including 700، 1200 and 2000 lux were studied to investigate possible effects of light intensity on in vitro growing ofseed bourn stems of Moringa peregrina. In order to fix genotype effects، first، seedling produced by seeds collected from Kenshky، located around Nikshahr، Sistan-Baluchestan province، Iran، were propagated by micropropagation. The stems were used in a three replicated completely randomized design to test the effects of three light intensity levels. Results revealed remarkable differences between the treatments، indicating significant effects of light intensity on in vitro growth of the species. The results implied that despite the species is originated from regions with high light intensity، its in vitro propagation needs a low light intensity to grow well. In other words، high light intensity caused the lowest number of stem on the cultures. Therefore، in growing the superior genotypes، collected from the area، through micropropagation، low light intensity is recommended.