USE OF MICROPROPAGATION TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE GERMINATION SUCCESS IN SIX SPECIES OF CACTI

Cacti have been a major contributor to the ecosystem of desert fauna as a constant food source during dry seasons. However, this resource has reached a point of dwindling due to many human interferences. In situ conservative efforts have not been stable enough to maintain the efforts of preserving population genetics. Therefore, in vitro techniques will be required to counter the effects. Following previous studies, micropropagation techniques were analyzed to optimize germination number, time, and rate around three variables; difference in nutrient media, gibberellic acids, and species. Two trials were run at intervals of eight weeks; the second trial a few weeks after the first had ended. Results showed a strong significance in emergence and germination affected by species type for both trials. There were other significant factors including interactions between variables. Overall, this experiment showed overwhelming evidence towards the need to treat species to separate protocols in micropropagation techniques.