Clonal Propagation and In Vitro Conservation of Jojoba [Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider]

Abstract

Simmo"n" dsia chinensis (Link) Schneider, popularlyknown as 'jojoba' or 'hohoba' ,is an evergreen, dioecious desert shrub, belonging to the family Simmondsiaceae. The plant is valued for its seeds, which store liquid wax (50% dry wt.). The properties of jojoba oil are similar to that of spermaceti and it is widely used as lubricant for heavy machinery, in cosmetic, pharmaceuticals and . plastic industries (Benzioni, 1995). The vegetative propagation of jojoba via conventional stem cuttings did not prove effective due to lengthy procedure and slow growth (Lee etaI., 1985; Benzioni, 1995). Therefore