Department of Biotechnology, Periyar University, Salem – 636011, Tamil Nadu, India.

Abstract

In vitro micropropagation of Melicope lunu-ankenda was carried out by shoot
regeneration from explants followed by rooting of the multiplied shoots. Two types of
culture media, MS and WPM media, supplemented with the cytokinin 6-
benzylaminopurine (BAP) (0, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0 and 5 mg/l) were used for shoot initiation.
For shoot propagation, BAP was tested in combination with kinetin (KIN). Explants
from lateral shoots responded better to shoot initiation as compared with those derived
from shoot apices, when cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L BAP. The
combination of BAP (3.0 mg/l) and KIN (1 mg/L) was superior to all other hormonal
treatments for shoot proliferation with a maximum of 25 shoots per explants being
obtained. The auxins indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were
used in six concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/l) for root induction from the
regenerated shoots. MS supplemented with IBA (0.5 mg/l) was the best medium to
induce rooting from regenerated shoots. A plantlet survival rate of greater than 85%
was achieved during acclimatization. The availability of this protocol is a key step
towards large scale production of Melicope lunu-ankenda for the exploitation of its
pharmaceutical potential in Malaysia.