Large-scale production of Anogeissus pendula and A. Latifolia by micropropagation

Summary Success has been achieved in developing a complete protocol for mass propagation of Anogeissus pendula and A. latifolia, two important forest species found in India. Seeds cultured on plant growth regulator-free, semisolid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium germinated within 5–6 wk and formed 4–6-cm long shoots. The shoots multiplied on MS+4.4 μM benzyladenine (BA)+5.7 μM indoleacetic acid (IAA) + casein hydrolysate (100 mgl⁻¹) + ascorbic acid (50 mgl⁻¹) + sucrose (3%) + agar (0.8%). A majority of the genotypes rooted with more than 90% efficiency when 5–6 cm individual shoots were cultured on 1/2MS (only major salts reduced to half strength)+2.3 μM IAA+2.5 μM indolebutyric acid (IBA) + sucrose (3%)+agar (0.8%) for 15 d. Those 10% (approx.) genotypes that did not root well on the above medium could be rooted with ease by increasing the concentration of IAA in the rooting media from 2.3 to 5.7 μM. The in vitro-raised plants were successfully transferred to the soil with a success rate of over 85%. Using this protocol, over 560 000 tissue-cultured plants of these two species have been produced and dispatched to various state forest departments for field trials and routine plantations.