Production of plantlets from Aegle marmelos nucellar callus

Techniques have been developed for the regeneration of Aegle marmelos from nucellar explants. Slow-growing calli were induced from nucellar explants excised from 90–120 d-old developing fruits. The medium consisted of Murashige and Skoog formulation containing 40 g/l sucrose, 400 mg/l casein hydrolysate, 5 mg/l 1-naphthaleneacetic acid and 1 mg/l kinetin. The basal medium with high concentration (1–5 mg/l) of N6-benzyladenine (BA) and low concentration (0.1 mg/l) of NAA was suitable for regeneration of shoots from 3-month-old calli. Addition of 1 mg/l gibberellic acid (GA3) favoured shoot growth. Callus-derived shoots produced roots and developed into plantlets when transferred to half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.5 mg/l NAA. Approximately 5 months were required for the full regenerative process.