Callus induction and shoot regeneration from epicotyl explants of ethnomedicinally important Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb

An efficient plant regeneration method was established for Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. by culturing immature epicotyl explants. Morphogenic calli were initiated from 96% of epicotyl explants on MS medium supplemented with BA (6-benzylaminopurine) 4.0 mg/l and NAA (Naphthalene acetic acid) 1.0 mg/l. The calli formed were excised and subcultured on MS medium fortified with 1 mg/l 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) for further proliferation. Maximum percent organogenesis (84%) and average shoots per culture (5.6) was observed on MS medium fortified with 3.0 mg/l BA and 1.0 mg/l IAA (indole-3- acetic acid). Addition of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in ½ MS medium favored rooting of recovered shoots. Out of 30 rooted shoots transferred to soil 27 survived after acclimatization.