REGENERATION OF TREMA ORIENTALIS (BLUME) LINN.: EFFECT OF GROWTH REGULATORS, CULTURE CONDITIONS, AND AGE AND SOURCE OF EXPLANTS
Optimal conditions for high frequency shoot bud regeneration from leaf callus of Trema orientalis (Blume) Linn. were studied. The regeneration rate was controlled by the growth regulators, the age and the source of the explants, and the illumination conditions. Irrespective of illumination conditions, shoot bud regeneration was achieved only in media containing benzyladenine (BA) + α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) combinations, with the best results being obtained in the presence of 2.5 mg/1 BA and 0.25–0.5 mg/1 NAA. The morphogenic response was less frequent in the calluses derived from leaf explants of the mature trees compared to those of the in vitro-grown seedlings. The rate of shoot bud regeneration was more pronounced in the cultures maintained for 4 weeks in the light (16-h photoperiod) than the cultures incubated in the dark. Regenerated shoots were rooted on the medium containing 1/2 strength basal Murashige and Skoog (MS) salts supplemented with 0.01 mg/1 NAA or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The rooted plantlets were established in the greenhouse.