In vitro Nodal Explants Propagation of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa

Aegle marmelos (L.), Correa is an ancient sacred tree of India, belonging to family Rutaceae. It is one of the most important tree with religious importance and several medicinal uses. Charaka Samhita, one of the most respected works in Ayurveda, provides plenty of information on its medicinal attributes. This tree when normally propagated using seeds, exhibit morphological and biochemical variations within the population due to its heterozygous nature. Developing, in vitro technique for rapid clonal propagation from elite tree will help in preserving genotype qualities in raised population. In the present study, efforts were made to find out the suitable media composition for rapid clonal propagation of Aegle marmelos tree using nodal segments as a explant material. All the experiments were carried out in Murashige and Skoog's (MS) media using different phytohormone concentrations to record callogenic and morphogenic responses. In the establishment stage, 33 individual phytohormone treatments (Auxin/Cytokinin) and 20 combination treatments (Auxin + Cytokinin) were used. For multiplication purpose 25 combination treatments (Auxin + Cytokinin) and for elongation 12 combination treatments (Auxin + Cytokinin) were used. Rooting was carried out in half strength MS media with IBA in 3 different concentrations. Finally, ischolar_mained micro shoots were hardened using autoclaved potting mixture of Sand: Soil: Vermicompost in 1:1:1 ratio. Plantlets that survived were ultimately transferred to ex-vitro conditions taking due care.