Shoot Bud Induction and Somatic Embryogenesis in Callus Cultures of Munudlea sericea (Wild.) A. Cheval.

Cotyledonary segments cultured on MS medium fortified with various combinations of auxins like Dicamba, IAA, IBA and NAA produced compact brown callus, which later on developed into greenish white shoot buds. These shoot buds on transferring to the shoot induction medium produced 20-25 shoots. Somatic embryogenesis of Mundulea sericea was achieved from shoot tip explants cultured on MS medium fortified with picloram, NAA and BAP. Indirect somatic embryos arose on the surface on nodular, brown compact callus. Somatic embryo were translucent to opaque white in appearance. In the present study, the results indicate that, cotyledonary segments cultured on MS medium fortified with Dicamba in combination witn IAA (2+1, 2+2, 1+1, 1+2 mg/l respectively), IBA (1+2, 2+2 mg/l) and NAA (2+2 mg/l) produced shoot buds. Shoot buds on transferring to the shoot induction medium containing BAP (3 mg/l) + NAA (0.5 mg/l) + GA3 (0.5 mg/l) developed into 20-25 shoots. These shoots were best rooted on 1/2 strength MS medium fortified with 2.5 mg/l NAA. Shoot tip explants cultured on MS medium fortified with Picloram (5 mg/l) + NAA (1 mg/l) + BAP (0.1 mg/l) produced 29-30 translucent somatic embryos. Somatic embryo frequency was more at 3% sucrose concentration. The somatic embryos germinated to produce plantlets, bud the regeneration capacity was limited to 5-6 plantlets. The regenerated plants were acclimatized and successfully transferred to the field conditions.