Effective protocol for in vitro shoot production through nodal explants of Simmondsia chinensis

Abstract

Nodal explants excised from 18 to 20-year-old female plants of Simmondsia chinensis if cultured on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with 20 μM N6-benzyladenine (BA) differentiated an average of 2.7 ± 0.4 shoots in 11.5 % explants. The percentage of nodal explants inducing multiple shoots enhanced significantly if in vitro raised shoots were used as source of explants. Nearly 100 % cultures differentiated an average of 4.7 ± 2.0 shoots per explant on the same medium. Nearly 85 % of the shoots induced roots when a pulse treatment of 50 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was given prior to their transfer to semi-solid MS medium containing 10 μM IBA + 0.5 % activated charcoal + 1 μM BA. Plantlets were gradually hardened in Soilrite and acclimatized to soil.