CLONAL PROPAGATION BY IN-VITRO CULTURE OF CORCHORUS (JUTE)

Callus was produced on cotyledon, shoot tip, hypocotyl and root explan ts of two Corchorus species on several media. Cytokinin was necessary for callus production on cotyledon explants. Both C. olitorius genotyp es produced most callus on media with zeatin and either NAA or IAA, an d the C. capsularis genotype produced most callus on media with IAA an d either zeatin or BA. High frequencies of regenerated shoots were obt ained from shoot tip explants of both species, from the apical meriste m and from callus. Media with 2.0 mg l(-1) BA were superior for both s pecies, and media with zeatin were equally good for C. capsularis only . More regeneration was obtained for all genotypes after subculture of callus on media with 2.0 mg l(-1) zeatin. Cotyledon callus produced l ess regeneration, also with differences between genotypes; explants of both genotypes of C. olitorius produced regeneration on a medium with NAA and zeatin, and the C. capsularis genotype produced regeneration on a medium with IAA and BA. Limited regeneration from root explant ca llus was obtained for C. capsularis only on medium with BA and IAA. Re generation was not obtained from hypocotyl callus. Further regeneratio n of shoots of both species was obtained from secondary callus after s ubculture, and from nodal segments of regenerated shoots and of seedli ng shoots cultured on basic MS medium without growth hormones. Roots w ere produced on about 80% of all shoots after transference to medium w ith 0.2 mg l(-1) IBA, and rooted plantlets survived and flowered norma lly after transference to compost.