Abstract
Somatic embryogenesis was achieved in two oil yielding tropical tree species i.e. Simarouba glauca & Azadirachta indica using immature zygotic embryos as explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5 – 1.5 mg/l benzylaminopurine (BA) and 2.0 - 3.0 mg/l NAA (1-napthaleneacetic acid) or 2, 4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and 3% sucrose. MS medium containing 1.0 mg/l BA and 2.0 mg/l NAA was noted to be the most effective in inducing friable embryogenic callus (FEC) in Simarouba glauca; the number of somatic embryos per culture varied in MS medium supplemented with 1.0 – 1.5 mg/l BA and 1.0 mg/l NAA. In Azadirachta indica, somatic embryos developed on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l BA and 1.5 – 2.0 mg/l 2,4-D which were in various shapes and sizes after the first subculture on MS medium supplemented with 0.25 mg/l abscisic acid. The somatic embryos which developed shoots were isolated and rooted in 1/2 strength MS medium supplemented with 0.25 mg/l abscisic acid and 2% sucrose. About 25% of embryos germinated within 20 days of culture in case of Simarouba glauca and 62% in Azadirachta indica. The somatic embryo-derived plantlets were transferred to the field after being hardened in the climate controlled hardening chamber.
Highlights
Simarouba glauca Linn. (Simaroubaceae) a multipurpose fast growing tree from Amazon rainforest and other tropical areas in Mexico, Cuba, Haita, Jamaica and Central America is grown for seed oil, medicines, firewood and revegetation of barren wastelands even under moisture and nutrient stress
Friable calli developed from immature zygotic embryos within 3 - 4 weeks of culture on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations of auxins and cytokinins
Embryogenic callus mass developed on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 - 2.0 mg/l BA and 2.0 - 3.0 mg/l NAA in S. glauca and 0.5 mg/l BA and 1.0 - 2.0 mg/l 2,4-D in case of A. indica
Summary
Simarouba glauca Linn. (Simaroubaceae) a multipurpose fast growing tree from Amazon rainforest and other tropical areas in Mexico, Cuba, Haita, Jamaica and Central America is grown for seed oil, medicines, firewood and revegetation of barren wastelands even under moisture and nutrient stress. A native of India and Myanmar, Azadirachta indica was introduced to Africa, the Middle East, South America and Australia. All parts of these plants including fruit, seed, leaf, root and bark are used for their medicinal properties. Some plants of Simarouba glauca and Azadirachta indica bear fruits in profusion, were considered as elite candidates for cloning. Regeneration of plants via somatic embryogenesis has been preferred as a method for multiplication of valuable germplasm in many woody species. In this study the requirements of culture media, including environmental conditions for induction of somatic embryogenesis, maturation and germination of the somatic embryos in economically important oil yielding tropical tree species for their adaptability to harsh conditions were investigated
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