IN-VITRO MULTIPLICATION OF VANILLA-PLANIFOLIA USING AXILLARY BUD EXPLANTS

A clonal propagation method has been developed for efficient multiplic ation of Vanilla planifolia. Multiple shoots were developed from axill ary bud explants using semi-solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supp lemented with N-6-benzyladenine (BA, 2 mg l(-1)) and cr-naphthaleneace tic acid (NAA, 1 mg l(-1)). The multiple shoots were transferred to ag itated liquid MS medium with BA at 1 mg l(-1) and NAA at 0.5 mg l(-1) for 2-3 weeks, and subsequently cultured on semi-solid medium, Using t his method, an average of 42 shoots were obtained from a single axilla ry bud explant over a period of 134 days. Use of an intervening liquid medium has been found to enhance multiplication of shoots in V. plani folia.