IN-VITRO PROPAGATION OF BOSWELLIA-SERRATA ROXB

An in vitro procedure for large scale multiplication of Boswellia serr ata Roxb. has been developed using cotyledonary node segments. In aver age 4 shoots per node were obtained on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medi um containing 0.5 mg dm(-3) 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.05 mg dm(- 3) napthaleneacetic acid (NAA) within 22 d. By repeated subculture tec hnique 90 - 100 shoots per node could be obtained after 88 d of initia l culture. Shoots could be rooted on MS medium containing 1/4 salts, 1 % saccharose, and a combination of 0.5 mg dm(-3) indole-3-butyric aci d (IBA) and 0.25 mg dm(-3) indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Addition of ant ioxidants like polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP - 50 mg dm(-3)) and ascorbic acid (100 mg dm(-3)) in both multiplication and rooting media prevente d browning of cultures. Approximately 80 % of shoots rooted within 8 - 10 d. Rooted plantlets were kept for 15 d in culture bottles containi ng Soilrite(TM) irrigated with a nutrient solution containing 1/4 MS s alts and finally transferred to pots containing soil:Soilrite(TM) (1:1 ) mixture with 70 % transplantation success.