<em>In vitro</em> propagation of <em>Murraya koenigii</em> by axillary bud proliferation using mature explants

Abstract

<em>Murraya koenigii</em> is an important medicinal and aromatic plant. This plant is a native species of arid and semi-arid area of Rajasthan, India. Its leaves used as an analgesic, astringements, anti-dysenteric, antioxidant, hypo-lipidemic and for regulation of fertility. An efficient and reproducible procedure for the large scale propagation of <em>M. koenigii</em> is described. High frequency axillary shoot proliferation was induced in mature nodal explants. Regeneration of shoots (8-10) achieved on Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium (liquid) supplemented with benzylaminopurine (11.09 µM), kinetin (11.61 µM) and adenine sulphate (81.44 µM). Rooting (95%) in regenerated shoots occurred in 3 - 4 weeks of transfer on MS basal medium containing 12.30 µM indole butyric acid (IBA) and 5.13 µM indole acetic acid (IAA).<em> In vitro </em>plantlets regenerated from axillary bud proliferation were hardened for four weeks in a green house. The hardened plantlets were transferred to field conditions and high (82 to 85%) survival rate was achieved.