The initiation of callus culture ofMichelia champaca for essential oil production

Abstract

TheMichelia champaca callus was induced from rachises of theM. champaca flowers on 1/2 MS medium containing 3% sugar and 0.9% agar. The medium was also supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) as the growth regulators. It was observed that the calli ofM. champaca could be induced on media containing 0–50 μM 2,4-D and 0.1–1 μM BAP. The calli were grown well on media on media containing 0.1–1.0 μM BAP and 2,4-D up to 50 μM. As 1 μM BAP was used, a lower concentration of 2,4-D was associated with a fast initiation of calli, but the culture of these calli turned brown quickly. To the contrary, a higher concentration of 2,4-D led to a slower rate of callus formation and the culture hardly turned brown. The optimum pH for the cell culture was about 5.6 as 1 μM of 2,4-D and BAP were present in the medium.