Effect of plant growth substances on the in vitro propagation of jack (Artocarpus Heterophyllus Lam.)

Abstract

Explants from shoot apices of fresh stem sprouts of five-year old jack (Artocarpusheterophyllus Lam.) trees registered a multiplication rate of 4.5 x. when cultured for five weeks on MS proliferation medium containing BA (5 mg/l) and NAA (0.2 mg/l). The normal strength of inorganic salts and organic growth factors of the MS medium, with 30—40 g/l of sucrose or 20—30 g/l of glucose was found to support the multiplication and growth of the cultures. GAa did not influence the shoot proliferation or growth. Adenine sulphate at 20 mg/l was found to increase the multiplication rate by 27.3 per cent, without <iffecting the growth. Adenine and casein hydrolysate were found not beneficial. Elongation of the shoots from the proliferation medium was observed on MS medium supplemented with BA 2 mg/l and NAA 0.2 mg/l. In vitro rooting of the shoots occurred when cultured for six days on a half strength MS medium containing ISA 2 mg/l, NAA 2 mg/l, sucrose 30 g/l and agar 6 g/l and then transferred to a similar medium without the plant growth substances. Cytological examination revealed the stability of chromosome number in the plantlets. When planted out, tit3 plantlets registered 55.6 per cent survival.