Copper and Zinc Induced Amelioration of In vitro Multiplication of Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees
Bamboos are among most significant plants worldwide and economically important forest resource in many countries of Asia. In vitro propagation is a potential and well known technique for mass multiplication of bamboo. Efforts were made for multiplication of Dendrocalamus strictus through aseptic nodal explants and its acceleration through heavy metal infusion. A rapid in vitro propagation protocol was established. Maximum germination with 100% survival rate was recorded in MS media supplemented with 1.0 mg/l BAP in combination with TDZ (0.25 mg/l) with a maximum shoot number of 9.36±0.67 and shoot length of 6.85 ± 0.95. The effects of copper and zinc were assessed on morphogenesis. The specific concentration of copper and zinc in MS medium were doubled (2x), quintuple pentadrupled (5x) and decupled (10x). The results revealed that maximum mean shoot number and mean shoot length was observed in quintuple pentadrupled zinc i.e. 6.80 ± 0.74 and 6.60 ± 0.80 cm respectively, however as concerned to copper, maximum shoot number (5.56 ±0.92) and shoot length (5.87 ± 0.78) were observed at similar concentration. Although copper and zinc are toxic for plants at higher concentration, but a good in vitro propagation response was observed in quintuple pentadrupled concentration.