Micropropagation of Crataeva nurvala

Abstract

A simple protocol for mass multiplication of Crataeva nurvala, a medicinal tree, from seedling-derived explants is described. Six different types of explants (cotyledonary nodes, epicotyl nodes, hypocotyl segments, first pair of leaves, cotyledons, and root segments) developed shoots on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) basal medium or the same supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Among the explants tested for caulogenic potential, only the epicotyl and cotyledonary nodal explants developed shoots on MS basal medium, while on BAP (0 - 2.0 mg dm-3) adjuvated media all the explants exhibited caulogenesis. The optimum concentration of BAP varied for these explants. The shoots could be rooted on half strength MS with 0.02 mg dm-3 α-naphthalene acetic acid to get plants, which have been transferred to soil. The explants from in vitro regenerated shoots also possessed a similar caulogenic potential.