IN-VITRO PROPAGATION OF AN ORNAMENTAL TREE MILLINGTONIA-HORTENSIS L F

Millingtonia hortensis, an ornamental tree with fragrant flowers and d ecorative foliage is suitable for avenues, gardens, parks as well as f or afforestation programmes. Conventional methods of propagation throu gh seeds and root cuttings have to be supplemented by in vitro methods for large scale commercial purposes. Among the various cytokinins tes ted for multiple bud initiation, kinetin 15 mg/l used singly and 6-ben zyl aminopurine (BAP)5 mg/l and thidiazuron (TDZ) 2 mg/l in combinatio n gave the best results. Only 7.6% rooting response was achieved with 0.1 mg/l of indoles-butyric acid (IBA) and l-naphthalene acetic acid ( NAA) with roots arising from intervening callus. Culture of shoots on auxin free medium and quarter strength MS medium resulted in enhanced rooting response and reduction in callus formation. The rooted shoots were potted in 1:1 sand:soil mixture.