STUDIES ON IN VITRO REGENERATION FROM VARIOUS EXPLANTS OF A MATURE NEEM (AZADIRACHTA INDICA) TREE

Abstract

Azadirachta indica (neem) is one of the most resourceful trees known to mankind. In this study, plant tissue culture techniques were applied to study the possibility of regeneration of a mature neem tree (~50 years old) using various explants such as terminal buds, lateral buds, leaves, petiole and cambium. Good regeneration response was obtained from different explants on MS media with various cytokinin and auxin combinations. Good callusing was observed in terminal and lateral buds on MS media with 2 mg/L BAP, 1 mg/L Kn, 0.5-1 mg/L NAA, in leaves on MS media with 2 mg/L BAP, 1 mg/L Kn, 1-2 mg/L 2,4-D, in petioles on MS media with 2 mg/L BAP, 0.5-1 mg/L IAA, and in cambium on MS media with 2 mg/L BAP, 0.5-1 mg/L NAA. Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers were used to confirm the genetic stability of callus.