Micropropagation of Bael [Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr.] – An Indigenous Medicinal Fruit Tree of India

Abstract

A protocol for micropropagation of bael [Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr.] was developed. Bael (family Rutaceae) is
an indigenous medicinally important fruit of India. The nodal explants of 30 year old tree were used to initiate
cultures. Two cytokinins, viz., 6–benzylaminopurine (BAP) and kinetin (Kn) were used in varied concentration
(0.1-2 mg/l) for shoot multiplication. BAP (2 mg/l) was found better than Kn, where a 3-fold increase in the number
of shoots was recorded in 4 weeks. A synergistic influence of cytokinin and auxin was also observed in the present
study. A combination of 0.5 mg/l BAP and 0.1 mg/l IAA induced the formation of maximum number (4.5) of
shoots (2.5 cm). For rooting of in vitro shoots, different auxins, namely, NAA, IAA and IBA (0.1-2 mg/l) were
tested. IAA (0.01 mg/l) was found better than NAA and IBA. It was concluded that elite cultivars of bael can
be micropropagated, without undergoing callus phase, using the BAP (0.5 mg/l) plus IAA (0.1 mg/l) for shoot
multiplication and IAA (0.1 mg/l) for rooting, to produce true–to–type in vitro plants. The in vitro raised plantlets
were acclimatized with 30% success