MICROPROPAGATION OF CURRY LEAF TREE [MURRAYA-KOENIGII (L.) SPRENG] BYAXILLARY PROLIFERATION USING INTACT SEEDLINGS

An efficient and reproducible procedure for the large scale propagatio n of Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. (Curry Leaf Tree) is described. Hig h-frequency direct shoot proliferation was induced in intact seedlings of M. koenigii on modified Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) medium sup plemented with 5.0 mg/l benzyladenine. Shoot buds originated from the region adjacent to the apex of the primary shoot and the epicotyledona ry node of the intact seedling. Shoots elongated following transfer to MS medium without plant growth regulators. The shoot-forming capacity of intact seedlings was influenced by explant orientation. Maximum sh oot proliferation was obtained when the shoot-forming region was in di rect contact with the medium surface or slightly embedded into the med ium. Proliferating shoot cultures were established by repeatedly subcu lturing mother seedlings on fresh medium of the same composition after excising all newly formed shoots. Roots were formed on excised shoots when they were transfered to half-strength MS containing 1.0 mg/l ind ole-3-butyric acid. Plantlets were acclimatized and established in soi l where they exhibited normal growth.