In vitro shoot regeneration from axillary bud cultures of malabar white pine (Vateria indica L.) through tissue culture

Abstract

Axillary buds collected from seedlings of Veteria Mica L., the recalcitrant Malabar white pine, were cultured under in vitro conditions with the objective of standardising the micropropagation technique for this species. A few media combinations consisting of full and half strength mineral salts of Murashige and Skoog (MS) as well as woody plant medium (WPM) have been identified to be capable of supporting culture establishment and bad break. Among these, the media containing half strength mineral salts of MS supplemented with organic nutrients and growth regulators alone supported elongation and continued growth of shoots. Shoots were 1-2 cm in height with 2-3 leaves in eight weeks under controlled conditions with 16 h photoperiod at a temperature of 27+2" C. The success obtained is the first of this kind in this species.