In vitro regeneration of clonally uniform plants of Crataeva magna: a high value medicinal tree by axillary branching method

Crataeva magna (Lour.) DC (synonym C. nurvala) is a high-value Indian medicinal tree. The multiple uses of C. magna have resulted in its over-exploitation. Erratic seed germination combined with destructive harvesting and habitat destruction in the form of deforestation has added to the enormity of the problem. Therefore, the need for conservation of this plant is vital. Development of an efficient micropropagation protocol will play a significant role in meeting the requirement of quality planting material for commercial cultivation thereby conserving the species in its natural habitat. In the present study, shoot multiplication was achieved by culturing single node segments derived from a field grown tree on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with 2.66 mu M N6-benzyladenine, 1.39 mu M Kinetin (Kn), 0.57 mu M indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 3% sucrose and 0.2% gelrite. 96% rooting was achieved within 22 days by culturing the in vitro formed shoots on half strength MS medium with 11.42 mu M IAA, 9.8 mu M indole-3-butyric acid, 0.46 mu M Kn and 198.25 mu M phloroglucinol. Following a simple hardening procedure involving sequential transfer of plants to a greenhouse, polyhouse, and shade net, the tissue-cultured plants were transferred to the field where the survival rate was 100%. To this date 500 plants have been produced. Inter simple sequence repeat analysis has confirmed genetic uniformity of the tissue-cultured plants.