title: Improved method of in vitro regeneration in Leucaena leucocephala - a leguminous pulpwood tree species.
abstract: Leucaena leucocephala is a fast growing multipurpose legume tree used for forage, leaf manure, paper and pulp. Lignin in Leucaena pulp adversely influences the quality of paper produced. Developing transgenic Leucaena with altered lignin by genetic engineering demands an optimized regeneration system. The present study deals with optimization of regeneration system for L. leucocephala cv. K636. Multiple shoot induction from the cotyledonary nodes of L. leucocephala was studied in response to cytokinins, thidiazuron (TDZ) and N(6)-benzyladenine (BA) supplemented in half strength MS (½-MS) medium and also their effect on in vitro rooting of the regenerated shoots. Multiple shoots were induced from cotyledonary nodes at varied frequencies depending on the type and concentration of cytokinin used in the medium. TDZ was found to induce more number of shoots per explant than BA, with a maximum of 7 shoots at an optimum concentration of 0.23 µM. Further increase in TDZ concentration resulted in reduced shoot length and fasciation of the shoots. Liquid pulse treatment of the explants with TDZ did not improve the shoot production further but improved the subsequent rooting of the shoots that regenerated. Regenerated shoots successfully rooted on ½-MS medium supplemented with 0.54 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Rooted shoots of Leucaena were transferred to coco-peat and hardened plantlets showed ≥ 90 % establishment in the green house.
authors.affiliation: National Chemical Laboratory, Plant Tissue Culture Division, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411 008 India.
authors.forename: Noor M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Shaik
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arha
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nookaraju
authors.forename: Sushim K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Sameer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Arun K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: Pallavi S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.forename: O U
authors.initials: OU
authors.lastname: Abhilash
authors.forename: Rishi K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Vishwakarma
authors.forename: Somesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Rajeshri
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tatkare
authors.forename: Kannan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chinnathambi
authors.forename: Shuban K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rawal
authors.forename: Bashir M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Khan
keywords: Cotyledonary nodes; Multiple shoot induction; Pulse treatment; TDZ