In vitro techniques for the proliferation of axillary shoots to establish complete plants of Artocarpus chaplasha Roxb.

This study was aimed to establish an in vitro propagation method of Artocarpus chaplasha Roxb. trees. Shoot proliferation was induced from shoot apices and lateral bud explants of Artocarpus chaplasha Roxb. cultured on MS medium containing different concentrations of BAP, NAA and Kinetin either alone or in various combinations. Coconut water (CW) and casein hydrolysate (CH) were used as additives to the medium to determine their effects on shoot growth and development. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) were used in medium as an antioxidant and antibrowning agent. Results showed that 2.5 mg/L BAP + 0.5 mg/L NAA showed highest 75% shoot induction with multiple shoots of 6.4 shoots per explants and 5.0 cm longest shoot, while 3.0 mg/L KIN + 0.5 mg/L NAA showed (64%) shoot induction with 5.8 shoots per explants and 4.80 cm longest shoot. Addition of 20% (v/v) CW and 300 mg/l CH to the medium enhanced the number of shoots up to 10.5 per explants. The length of shoots also was found to be enhanced with these additives. 0.7% PVP was used in the medium as antibrowning agent. In vitro grown shoots were cultured to root on half strength MS medium containing either of 3 auxins, namely IAA, IBA or NAA at concentrations of 1.5, 1.0 or 0.5 mg/L. Concerning rooting potentiality, addition of 1.0 mg/L IBA + 0.5 mg/L NAA to half strength MS medium gave 80% rooting percentage. Successful transplanting was obtained when rooted plantlets were transferred to a mixture of soil, sand and compost (1:1:1). Plantlets were transferred to a tray containing soil, sand and compost and covered by polythene sheets. After two weeks they were transplanted individually in the small poly bags and kept in open place with indirect sunlight where 75% of the plants survived.