In vitro shoot Proliferation from Nodal Explants of Aegiceras corniculatum L. (Blanco.)

Abstract

The micropropagation protocol of tropical, small evergreen, true mangrove, and woody shrub or tree species, Aegiceras corniculatum, has been standardized. Axillary shoot proliferation was induced in vitro from nodal explants excised from 3-4 years field-grown old plant which was then used as explants for the establishment of in vitro cultures. Surface-sterilized explants were cultured on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with different concentrations and a combination of growth regulators. Nodal explants, collected during January-March, exhibited 63% shoot proliferation and 1.799 ± 0.013 number of shoots per explants when cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) alone at 2.0 mg/l. The maximum shoot proliferation (75%) and the number of shoots per explants (1.933 ± 0.011) were recorded on the medium containing 3.0 mg/l BAP, 0.5 mg/l Kinetin (Kn), and 150 mg/l Ascorbic acid (as an antioxidant) which helped to reduce browning of the explants and facilitated the induction of shoots. Harder shoot explants containing 1-2 nodes were found to be better explants as compared with soft apical and axillary shoots. This is the first report of shoot proliferation by in vitro propagation techniques using nodal segments of A. corniculatum.