Plant tissue Cult. 6(2) : 117-126, 1996

In vitro Propagation of Acacia catechu, a Xerophilous Tree

P. Das, S. Samantaray¹ and G. R. Rout

Plant Biotechnology Division, Plant Tissue Laboratory, Regional Plant Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India

Key words: In vitro, Organogenesis, Forest tree, Acacia catechu

Abastract

Acacia catechu Willed, a xerophilous tree highly tolerant to saline and alkaline soils, produces the commercial catechu or cutch as catechin, a highly efficient anti-oxidant for use in vegetable oils and fats, doubling their self storage life. Catechu is also used in dyeing cotton and silk and as an astringent in fevers and other maladies. Propagation through seed is unreliable due to poor germination and death of young seedlings under natural conditions. In vitro morphogenesis via organogensis and somatic embryogenesis were achieved on callus cultures derived from immature cotyledons of an elite clone of Acacia catechu on woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with 9.3-13.94 M kinetin and 2.7 M 1-nahpthalene acetic acid. Shoot bud regeneration was achieved on media containing 9.3 M kinetin and 2.7 M 1-naphthalene acetic acid when the calli grown under a 16 h photoperiod. Regenerated buds developed into shoots on half-strength WPM supplemented with 4.7 μM kinetin and rooted on half-strength WPM without growth regulator. Secondary somatic embryogenesis was achieved in the medium supplemented with L-proline (87.2-347.4 M) when the calli were cultured for four weeks in the dark followed by incubation in the light under a 16 h photoperiod. The light green somatic embryos germinated on half-strength WPM supplemented with 2% (w/v) sucrose devoid of growth regulator. The somatic embryo derived plantlets were hardened were the greenhouse and transferred to the field. Histological observations confirmed regeneration of shoot buds and induction of somatic embryogenesis in the immature cotyledon derived calli.

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