Efficient method of micropropagation and in vitro rooting of teak (Tectona grandis L.) focusing on large-scale industrial plantations

Abstract

Multiple shoots of high quality were produced in vitro from nodal explants of Tectona grandis. An average of about 4 shoots/uninodal explant was obtained within 4 weeks of culture on Murashige and Skoog’s (mMS) medium modified by 50% reduction in NH4NO3 concentration, supplemented with benzylaminopurine (1.5 mg L−1); indole-3-butyric acid (0.01 mg L−1) and gibberellic acid (0.1 mg L−1). The latter was applied bothin the medium and by soaking the nodal segments for 10 s. in a gibberellic acid solution of 100 mg L−1. Hundred percent of shoots rooted cultured onmodified MS medium containing IBA (0.5 mg L−1) and putrescine (160 mg L−1). Putrescine promoted both strong and highly ramified roots and fastgrowing shoots during the rooting phase, conditioning the plantlets for a good survival and quality. Plantlets were transferred to jiffy pots for a shortacclimatization stage in greenhouse where they survived at 100%. This highly reproducible procedure can be adopted for large scale teak propagation.