MICROPROPAGATION OF RAISIN TREE (HOVENIA-DULCIS THUNB.) THROUGH AXILLARY BUD CULTURE

Clonal propagation In vitro of raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis Thunb.) was achieved using axillary buds from mature trees and young plants. Expl ants cultured on Murashige-Skoog's medium with 1/3 of the original sal t concentration, supplemented with 0.5 mg l(-1) BAP and 0.5 mg l(-1) I AA, showed proliferation of new shoots in 4-5 weeks. Adventitious shoo t proliferation was also stimulated in subsequent subcultures In the p resence of BAP. The shoots rooted when transferred to 1/3 Murashige an d Skoog's medium with 0.1 mg l(-1) of IBA. Plantlets thus formed were successfully transplanted to the field after a short acclimatization p eriod.