MICROPROPAGATION OF PSIADIA-ARGUTA THROUGH COTYLEDONARY AXILLARY BUD CULTURE

A micropropagation protocol for Psiadia arguta, an endangered endemic plant from Mauritius is described using 15-day old in vitro seedling e xplants without the radicle. MS basal medium supplemented with TDZ (0. 5-1 mg/l) proved to be the most effective medium for the induction of cotyledonary axillary buds as compared to MS medium containing NAA (0. 5 mg/l) or both NAA (0.5 mg/l) and TDZ (0.5-1 mg/l). In fact, after tr ansfer to hormone free MS medium, microshoots were obtained only from seedling explants cultured on media containing only TDZ. Regenerated s hoots elongated and rooted when cultured on MS8900 containing IBA (0-1 mg/l). Hormone-free MS8900 was the best medium for rooting and develo pment of plantlets for acclimatization.