93 Micropropagation In Vitro of Opuntia ficus-indica in Southern Morocco A. El Finti, R. El Boullani, M. Belayadi, N. Ait Aabd and A. El Mousadik Laboratory of Biotechnologies and Natural Resources Valorization, Science Faculty B.P. 8106, Agadir Morocco Keywords: prickly pear, Opuntia ficus-indica, in vitro micropropagation, auxins, micropropagated plantlets Abstract With the aim of large production of plant material, a rapid micropropagation method of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) was developed. Young cladode explants containing one areole were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium (MS) with adenine sulfate (40 mg/L), monosodium phosphate (50 mg/L), sucrose (50 g/L), phytagel (0.3%) and benzyladenine (BA) at 22.2 µM. Best multiplication rates were obtained with BA at 0.5 mg/L than kinetin. To induce rooting, the proliferated shoots were transferred to a medium containing half MS, sucrose (3%), phytagel (0.3%) and 0.5 mg/L of different auxins. In these culture conditions, 100% of plantlets rooted and highest number of root (21.05 and 16.2) was obtained respectively with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The rooted shoots were easily acclimated and transferred to soil. INTRODUCTION Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill.) also known as prickly pear is the most important plant species in the Cactaceae family. It is known as a multi-purpose plant since it can be used for human food (fruits and vegetables), forage, medicinal plants, and ornamental plants (Russell and Felker, 1987; Bravo-Hollis and Sanchez-Mejorada, 1991; Pimienta-Barrios and Munoz-Urias, 1995; Rodriguez-Felix, 2002). Opuntia ficus-indica is a xerophytic, succulent spiny or spineless type, CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) plant. Prickly pear is the most cultivated edible cactus crop in the world and is widely distributed in Mexico and the South American continent. It is also grown in many other regions of the world such as Africa, the Mediterranean area, Australia and south-western USA (Mohamed-Yasseen et al., 1995; Nobel, 1995; Mizrahi et al., 1997; Inglese et al., 2002; Piga, 2004). In Morocco, prickly pears have been grown for many years, especially in arid areas. The Opuntia plants are grown not only for fruit production but also as defensive hedges or for erosion control in reclaimed areas. In recent years, the production of prickly-pear fruits increased as a result of an increase in producing area (Boujghagh and Chajia, 2001). Generally, prickly pear cactus species can be sexually and asexually propagated. Seed propagation presents three main problems: genetic segregation, a long juvenile stage and the slow growth of seedlings compared to asexually propagated material (Mohamed- Yasseen et al., 1995). It is only used for scientific research (Rojas-Aréchiga and Vásquez- Yanes, 2000). Vegetative propagation, which is widely used, can be performed through the rooting of single or multiple cladodes, small portions of mature cladodes comprising two or more areoles, or by using fruits as propagules (Estrada-Luna et al., 2008). All these methodologies require large spaces for propagation and present a low propagation rate. Therefore, micropropagation is a feasible alternative option for the rapid multiplication and maintenance of germplasm, because it provides high propagation rates, reduced requirements for space, the production of healthy and pathogen-free plants (Johnson and Emino, 1979; Smith et al., 1991). A number of reports have been published describing the micropropagation of prickly pear (Johnson and Emino, 1979; Mauseth, 1979; Escobar et al., 1986; Clayton et al., 1990; Hubstenberger et al., 1992; García-Saucedo et al., 2005). However, there is no Proc. 7 th International Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal Eds.: A. Nefzaoui et al. Acta Hort. 995, ISHS 2013