OPTIMIZATION OF THE MICRO-CLONING SYSTEM OF THREATENED Moringa oleifera LAM.

For the efficient mass propagation of Moringa oleifera, an in vitro regeneration protocol was optimized through direct and indirect regeneration. The callus was initiated within four days on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L of 2,4-D, from cotyledonray explants. IAA and NAA took more days (18.17±1.17 and 17.80±0.90, respectively) to initiate callus as compared to 2,4-D and TDZ (7.98±0.41 and 9.15±0.55, respectively). 2,4-D and Kinetin in-combination also initiated callus earlier (9.75±0.52 days). In direct regeneration, the maximum shoot length (7.0±0.58 and 6.27±0.41cm) and number of leaves (12.0±1.15 and 16.0±0.50) were recorded in hypocotyl explants when cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.1 and 0.5 mg/L of Kinetin, respectively. On average nodes produced more number of shoots (1.65±0.21) as compared to hypocotyl explants. The number of roots (3.83±0.40 and 3.67± 0.21) and the root length (7.15±0.62 and 9.33±1.14) by node and hypocotyls was good on MS and the half MS media as compared to the other auxins used in this study. While the hypocotyl explants gained maximum root length (9.33±1.14) and the number of roots were higher (3.83±0.40) than node explants. The 85% plantlets were acclimatized successfully for the field conditions.