In vitro propagation of Arundinaria callosa Munro- an edible bamboo from nodal explants of mature plants.

A procedure for in vitro propagation of Arundinaria callosa Munro has been developed. The method allows bud-break from nodal segments containing single axillary bud on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with different concentrations of 6- benzylaminopurine (BAP). The early bud-break was obtained in 8.9-13.3 � M BAP, within 8-15 days. The position of the node on the culm of lateral branches also affected bud-break percentage and multiplication, mid-culm nodes are the most suitable. The optimal concentration of 13.3 � M BAP is found significant for shoot multiplication. Addition of 1.0 � M 3- indolebutyric acid (IBA) enhances the shoot multiplication rate. In vitro rooting was induced when 15 � M IBA was incorporated for three subcultures in the shoot proliferation medium, was transferred tostrength MS containing 25� M IBA and 0.05 � M BAP, and finally withdrawn from the rooting medium. The regenerants were successfully transplanted into a soil mixture for acclimatization before field planting.