Influence of the Physiological Age and Position of the Nodal Explants on Micropropagation of Field-Grown Dendrocalamus strictus Nees

An efficient and reproducible protocol for plant regeneration through in vitro culture of Dendrocalamus strictus is reported. Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with N6-benzyladenine and adenine sulphate resulted in high frequency of shoot organogenesis. Nodal explants obtained from mature field-grown culms of selected elite genotype of D. strictus produced multiple shoots. Percent regeneration and number of multiple shoots was directly correlated with the nodal segments from which explants were collected. Best regeneration response was noted from 1st and 2nd position from the basal end of the secondary branches. The effect of physiological age of the donor plant on axillary shoot multiplication was studied for three consecutive years. The regeneration frequency declined with the maturity of the donor plant. Roots and monopodial type micro-rhizomes were induced in medium containing half strength of MS macrosalts supplemented with indole-3-butryic acid and regenerants were successfully transplanted in the soil.