Title: In vitro propagation of tropical hardwood tree species — A review (2001-2011)

Author: Pijut, Paula M.; Beasley, Rochelle R.; Lawson, Shaneka S.; Palla, Kaitlin J.; Stevens, Micah E.; Wang, Ying.

Year: 2012

Publication: Propagation of Ornamental Plants. 12(1): 25-51.

Abstract: Tropical hardwood tree species are important economically and ecologically, and play a significant role in the biodiversity of plant and animal species within an ecosystem. There are over 600 species of tropical timbers in the world, many of which are commercially valuable in the international trade of plywood, roundwood, sawnwood, and veneer. Many of these tree species are being threatened and are endangered because of logging practices, conversion to agricultural lands, non-optimal management strategies, and overall deforestation rates that cannot keep up with natural regeneration of native forests. Tropical tree species provide timber for commercial uses because of the beauty of the wood-grain, -color, or -pattern, strength, durability, and versatility of finishing applications for a vast array of markets. Because of the high value of tropical tree species, in vitro (adventitious shoot regeneration, cryopreservation, genetic transformation, micrografting, protoplast culture, shoot tip and nodal culture, and somatic embryogenesis) propagation technologies are an integral component in tree improvement and conservation programs, in order to complement seed banking and ex situ measures for long-term conservation and clonal propagation of germplasm. Tropical tree species are also important because wildlife populations may be affected, soils can be stabilized and organic matter and nutrients in the forest floor altered, degraded areas can be restored, and tropical trees also provide socio-economic development for local communities. In addition, tropical tree species are valuable as ornamentals for landscaping (shade, flower, fall foliage, and fruit production), and as resources for a multitude of known and yet unknown commercial properties, such as medicinal drugs, natural insecticides, industrial uses, and non-timber products. This paper is a literature review (2001-2011) on in vitro propagation of tropical tree species grown or harvested for timber.