R.V. Madhusudhan
Bangalore University
India
Title: In vitro micropropagation of Calamus huegelianus an endangered rattan
Biography
Biography: R.V. Madhusudhan
Abstract
Calamus huegelianus, an endangered taxon, belongs to the family Arecaceae. Plantations are established in various regions of Western Ghats in order to conserve this taxon. Hence, an attempt has been made to multiply through enhancing the percent seed germination by various treatment and in vitro propagation keeping in view of the imbalance between demand and supply and requirement of the stock material for raising plantations. Seeds were pretreated with GA3 and acids before sowing them in various substrates. Further, in vitro germination on MS basal medium and paper bridges were also attempted to enhance percent germination. It was found that GA3 treated seeds sown in cow dung have shown maximum percent of germination. Shoot tips excised from one year old seedling were inoculated onto L2 and MS media supplemented with various growth regulators. Both direct and indirect organogenesis was obtained depending on the type and concentrations of the hormones supplemented to the media. L2+2, 4-D and L2+IAA+BAP were proved to be the best combination of hormones for direct and indirect regeneration respectively. Nearly 15-20 plants per culture were obtained. The regenerated shoots were rooted in the presence of either IAA or NAA in the medium. Sequentially acclimatized plantlets were transferred to land with 40% survival. The tissue cultured plants are maintained in field gene bank at the department of Botany. The above studies on seed germination and in vitro multiplication can be exploited in nursery managements and raising the plantations- as ex-situ cultivation centers.
