Biochemical and histological changes during in vitro organogenesis in Jatropha integerrima

Biochemical changes associated with adventitious shoot regeneration during in vitro culture of hypocotyl explants of Jatropha integerrima were determined. Histological and biochemical studies were undertaken at 7-d intervals, up to four weeks on hypocotyl explants cultured on basal Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with 0.5 mg dm(-3) N-6-benzyladenine and 1.0 mg dm(-3) indole-3-butyric acid. Initial cell proliferation occurred within one week of culture; meristemoid differentiation within two to three weeks and shoot development after four weeks. Peak activities of alkaline phosphatase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase was observed at day 14 indicating their involvement in the formation of meristematic centers. Protein accumulation and acid phosphatase activity were maximum at day 28.