Large scale<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> </i>propagation of an exotic edible bamboo, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Phyllostachys pubescens </i>Mazel ex H. De Lehale (Moso Bamboo) using seeds^†

Abstract

For <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">ex vitro</i> propagation, seeds of <i>P.pubescens</i> were treated with different concentrations of gibberellic acid (GA₃) and germination of seeds was tested both in plastic pots as well as by direct sowing in the nursery beds. Maximum seed germination was achieved when treated with 200 mgL^–1 (w/v) GA_3. For <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">in vitro</i> propagation, an exposure of nodal explants from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">in vitro</i> raised seedlings to 0.2 mgL^–1 1–phenyl–3–(1,2,3–thiadiazol–5–yl) urea and 1 mgL^–1 kinetin supplemented medium for 30 days and thereafter to hormone free Murashige and Skoog basal medium resulted in axillary shoot proliferation. For rooting, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">in vitro</i> raised shoots were exposed to MS medium containing 2 mgL^–1 indole-3-butyric acid for 15 days and then shifted to hormone free medium. On an average, 2.8 shoots were obtained in 75% of the cultures within 4 weeks. Such <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">in vitro</i> raised plants were successfully hardened and shifted to field conditions.