Rapid in vitro Propagation and Efficient Acclimatisation Protocols of Neolamarckia cadamba

Background and Objective: Neolamarckia cadamba is a fast-growing commercial timber tree species with considerable economic returns to the growers on a rotation period of 4-10 years. The present study was aimed to establish an efficient micropropagation protocol for N. cadamba through direct organogenesis by using nodal explants. Materials and Methods: The nodal explants from in vitro-germinated seedlings were cultured on B5 medium supplemented with various BAP concentrations. The in vitro shoots were then rooted in 1/2 B5 medium added with growth regulators such as IBA, NAA and PBZ. Three types of potting media were tested for transplantation efficiency. Results: The B5 medium supplemented with 1.0 mg LG1 BAP provided the most suitable medium for shoot induction from nodal explants with a mean of 5.4 shoots per explant. The subculture interval could be shortened by proliferating the regenerated axillary shoots on B5 medium supplemented with 0.8 mg LG1 BAP. Half-strength B5 medium enriched with 0.1 mg LG1 PBZ was able to induce root growth with 100% of root formation and resulted in more than 95% survival during acclimatisation stage. Conclusion: This micropropagation protocol could pave the way for mass production of quality N. cadamba seedlings for industrial tree plantation development in order to assure the local timber industries to meet the global demand for wood. Therefore, this could reduce the reliance on natural forests for wood production.