Rapid Plantlet Regeneration System from Cotyledon and Leaf Explants of Curry Leaf Tree (Murraya koenigii L. Spreng)

In the present study a highly efficient and reproducible procedure for the large scale propagation of M. koenigii is described. Rapid plantlet regeneration system via adventitious shoot proliferation from cotyledon and leaf explants was developed. The best results were observed on modified MS medium supplemented with BAP 12.75 mu M, Kinetin 8.98 mu M and ADS 152.74 mu M. On this medium 91.0 +/- 0.59 percent cotyledon explants showed an average number 8.09 +/- 0.02 shoots whereas 6.3 +/- 0.07 shoots were regenerated leaf explants. The highest shoot multiplication rate in cotyledons (4.9 +/- 0.09 fold) and leaf explants (2.8 +/- 0.07 fold) were achieved on MS basal medium augmented with 9.05 mu M BAP, 4.46 mu M Kinetin and 186.94 mu M ADS. Rooting of in vitro shoots occurred in 3-4 weeks on transfer to MS basal medium containing 14.86 mu M IBA. In vitro plantlets were hardened in small earthen pots containing a mixture of peat moss: perlite: vermiculite in the ratio of 1: 1: 1 at 70-80% relative humidity and 28 degrees C for 21 days. 70% of in vitro-raised plantlets survived under field conditions. Standardization of an efficient in vitro regeneration protocol could be helpful in carrying out various genetic modifications in this economically important crop.