IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF THE LEGUMINOUS TREE ERYTHRINA VARIEGATA L. VIA MULTIPLE SHOOT FORMATION

Erythrina variegata L. a pantropical multipurpose legume tree has got medicinal value. Keeping the importance of tree, in vitro propagation was attempted as a first step towards large scale production of alkaloids. Multiple shoot production could be achieved when cotyledon and leaf from in vitro grown seedlings were cultured on MS medium containing BAP, 2,4-D and NAA. MS medium supplemented with 10%, 15% and 20% of coconut milk in addition to cytokinin (TDZ) which triggered the induction of multiple shoots. MS with 1.0 mg/I BAP and 2.0 mg/1 L-glutamic acid also favoured the induction of multiple shoots which ranged from 12-16 from cotyledon segments. Leaf cultures were effective in inducing multiple shoots. Effect of gamma rays on multiple shoot induction was also attempted. The doses 4 kR and 5 kR induced high frequency of multiple shoots.