High frequency in vitro propagation of Holarrhena antidysenterica from nodal buds of mature tree

Abstract

An in vitro method for propagation of Holarrhena antidysenterica Wall. has been developed using nodal explants from mature trees growing in the field. Irrespective of concentrations and combinations of growth regulators used, the axillary and terminal buds sprouted and elongated when inoculated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The highest numbers of shoots were formed when sprouted shoots were subcultured from MS basal medium onto MS medium containing 2 mg dm−3 N6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.5 mg dm−3 α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The shoot number further increased upon subculture on MS medium containing 0.5 mg dm−3 BA. By repeated sub-culturing of shoots derived from nodal axillary buds, a high frequency multiplication rate was established. The elongated shoots were excised and rooted in auxin free MS basal medium. Ex vitro rooting of in vitro formed shoots was achieved upon dipping the microshoots for 2 min in 2 mg dm−3 of indole-3-butyric acid solution. Successful field establishment and high (80–90 %) survival of plants was observed.