IN-VITRO SHOOT PROLIFERATION AND PROPAGATION OF GUAVA (PSIDIUM-GUAJAVA L) FROM GERMINATED SEEDLINGS

Guava seeds were germinated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with or without 8.8 mu M benzyladenine (BA). BA increased the rate of germina tion and the number of lateral shoots (3.4 vs 1.2 per seedling). Stem nodes from these lateral shoots were cultured on proliferation media w ith 4.4 mu M BA, and multiple shoots (3.5) were formed within 4 weeks of culture. Increasing the concentration of BA or the addition of naph thaleneacetic acid (NAA) did not affect shoot formation. Shoots produc ed from explants and lateral shoots from germinated seedlings were roo ted in media containing activated charcoal (AC) or 9.8 mu M indolebuty ric acid (IBA). Shoots rooted with IBA had a higher rooting percentage (100% vs 75%) and a greater number of roots (5.5 vs 3.2) but the shoo ts were shorter (2.6 vs 3.4 cm) than when rooted in AC, and they requi red an additional 4 weeks of culture in media with AC to achieve shoot elongation. About 80% of the shoots with roots survived in the glassh ouse and produced normal phenotypic plants.