In vitro propagation of Boswellia serrata Roxb

Abstract

An in vitro procedure for large scale multiplication of Boswellia serrata Roxb. has been developed using cotyledonary node segments. In average 4 shoots per node were obtained on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium containing 0.5 mg dm-3 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.05 mg dm-3 napthaleneacetic acid (NAA) within 22 d. By repeated subculture technique 90-100 shoots per node could be obtained after 88 d of initial culture. Shoots could be rooted on MS medium containing 1/4 salts, 1% saccharose, and a combination of 0.5 mg dm-3 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.25 mg dm-3 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Addition of antioxidants like polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-50 mg dm-3) and ascorbic acid (100 mg dm-3) in both multiplication and rooting media prevented browning of cultures. Approximately 80% of shoots rooted within 8-10 d. Rooted plantlets were kept for 15 d in culture bottles containing SoilriteTM irrigated with a nutrient solution containing 1/4 MS salts and finally transferred to pots containing soil: SoilriteTM (1:1), mixture with 70% transplantation success. © 1995 Institute of Experimental Botany, ASCR.