Study of different benzylaminopurine (BAP) concentrations in the in vitro micropropagation of Leucaena leucocephala cv Peru

A study was undertaken to determine the effect of different benzylaminopurine (BAP) concentrations on the in vitro micropropagation of Leucaena leucocephala cv Peru. The Murashige and Skoog culture medium with vitamins B5 was used. The influence of ten BAP condentrations (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 mg/L) and a control treatment without hormones on the average height of the plantlets, the percentage of plantlets and the number of plantlets/explant was determined by a completely randomized design with three repetitions. All the concentrations (0-10 mg/L of BAP) showed the same responses in the percentage of plantlets with values between 30 and 70 %. The highest average height of the plantlets was obtained with 0, 2, 3, 4 and 9 mg/L of BAP-with values between 2.13 and 2.40 cm (P < 0.001), compared to 6 mg/L,without differences with the rest of the treatments. The number of plantlets/explant (2-3) did not vary with the different. concentrations, except the control with the smallest (P < 0.001) number. It is concluded that, from an economic point of view, a concentration of 1 mg/L should be used for the micropropagation of this species.