Abstract

Albizia amara, belonging to the family Fabaceae is a valuable economic, medicinal and multipurpose drought tolerant tree commonly found in dry forests of India. Keeping view of its economic importance, a protocol was developed for rapid clonal multiplication ofA.amara by means of plant tissue culture. In the present study, development of complete plantlets via induction of multiple shoots from seedling derived cotyledonary node explant and their successful rooting and acclimatization is reported. Cotyledonary node explants were excised from 12-15 day old aseptic seedlings to initiate culture for multiple shoot induction on MS medium. Among the different plant growth regulators tested either in single or in combination, BAP 1 mg/l, BAP 1 mg/l + Kn 2 mg/l, BAP 1 mg/l + NAA 1 mg/l were effective in inducing multiple shoots from cotyledonary node explants. Shoot elongation was prominent at Kn 0.25 mg/l concentration. In vitro rooting experiments were successful on half strength MS medium fortified with NAA 1 mg/l.

Key words: Albizia amara, tree, micropropagation, axillary bud multiplication.