Micro propagation of Phytolacca dodecandra L'Herit

Abstract

The use of molluscicides of plant origin for the control of Schistosomiasis is attractive due to the economic advantage of cultivating the plants locally instead of importing synthetic chemicals. The most extensively studied plant molluscicide is one derived from the berries of Endod (Phytolacca dodecandra L'Herit), a plant indigenous to eastern, central, western and southern Africa. The attempts to widen the applications of this plant as a means of control Schistosomiasis in infected areas suffer from two disadvantages: its natural occurrence other than in Ethiopia is limited and its cultivated forms outside Ethiopia produced a low-yield of berries. It is also difficult to find the correct soil type, climate, etc.. outside those few areas where Endod grows naturally. In order to introduce a new natural molluscicidal source in Egypt, the seeds of Endod were obtained from Zambia and were subjected to germination and cultivation trials. The germination percentage of the seeds was very low (20%). This work aimed to propagate Endod by shoot tip culture and microcuttings technique. This is the first report on the micropropagation of Ended (Phytolacca dodecandra L'Herit) in Egypt.