RAPID CLONAL PROPAGATION OF 3 MULBERRIES, MORUS-CATHAYANA HEMSL, MORUS-LHOU KOIZ AND MORUS-SERRATA ROXB, THROUGH IN-VITRO CULTURE OF APICALSHOOT BUDS AND NODAL EXPLANTS FROM MATURE TREES

High-frequency bud break and multiple shoots were induced in apical sh oot buds and nodal explants of Morus cathayana, M. lhou and M. serrata on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.5-1.0mg/l 6-benzylami nopurine (BAP). Addition of gibberellic acid (0.3 mg/l) along with BAP induced faster bud break both in apical shoot buds and nodal explants and also enhanced the frequency of bud break in all three species. Sh oot culture initiation was greatly influenced by explant type, explant age and explanting season. The shoots were successfully rooted on hal f-strength MS medium containing a combination of indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid and indole-3-propionic acid, each at 1.0 mg/l. The plantlets were successfully acclimated and eventually established in soil.