PROPAGATION OF BAMBUSA-VULGARIS (YELLOW BAMBOO) THROUGH NODAL BUD CULTURE

Bambusa vulgaris (yellow bamboo), is the most commonly cultivated and used bamboo species in many countries. With the increased demand for b amboo, the importance of bamboo plantations has been realized. This wo uld require large quantities of planting material continuously for whi ch tissue culture techniques offer a solution. The propagation of B. v ulgaris through nodal-bud culture was studied. Single nodal segments w ere tested for bud-break and shoot growth on basic Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium (MS) supplemented with different combinations and conce ntrations of growth regulators. Results suggest that cytokinin is impo rtant for bud-break. Gibberellic acid enhances multiple shoot producti on in this species. The position of the node on the culm appears to af fect bud-break and multiplication, middle nodes are the most suitable. Also, removal of prophylls enhances bud-break. The shoots developed f rom axillary buds could be rooted on MS basic medium at 50% macro and IBA (0.25 mu M). Upon transfer to the field (after four weeks in the r ooting medium), the shoots developed into true-to-type plants.