محسن نصیری
معصوم ایزدپناه
حسن حاج نجاری
پرویز زندی
غلامحسین رحمانی

Jojoba is considered as a valuable crop species regarding its tolerance to draught and soil salinity as well as its economical improtance as an industrial crop. This species is used in soil conservation activities, against desertification, as an ornamental and landscaping plant, and in some extend also can be considered as a nutritional plant. Seeds of jojoba contain 50-60% liquid wax which is used in electronic, medicine, nutrition and cosmetic industries. In this experiment, asexual (micropropagation) as well as sexual propagation methods were investigated. The best germination results (90%) were obtained when seeds incubated in a 27 C dark germinatior for 5-13 days. In spite of the difference in origin, shape, size and weight among the seed samples, no significant differences were observed among them with respect to the germination. In seed surface sterilizing experiment, the use of 70% ethanol for 5 sec followed by 1% (w/v) benomyl for 30 min, 1% (v/v) sodium hypochlorite for 20 min containing 1-2 drops of liquid soap, gave the highest sterilizing efficiency. In micropropagation experiments, the results showed that the best season for taking explant from the mother plants was late spring. The best hormonal combination for shoot proliferation were 4 ppm BA and 0.01 ppm IBA added to MS medium, while the best hormonal combination for root formation were 0.1 ppm BA and 3 ppm IBA added to MS medium.