Tissue Culture of Forest Tree Species - Recent Researches in India

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON MASS PROPAGATION OF TREE
SPECIES THROUGH IN VITRO METHODS'HELD AT NEW DELHI ON MARCH 16-17. 1992
TISSUE CULTURE OF FOREST TREE

SPECIES : RECENT RESEARCHES IN
ARCHIV IDRC - TIFNET

97797
7
IDRCL*
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON "MASS PROPAGATION OF TREE
SPECIES THROUGH IN VITRO METHODSHELD AT NEW DELHI ON MARCH 16-17w 1992
TISSUE CULTURE OF FOREST TREE

SPECIES : RECENT RESEARCHES IN INDIA
EDITORS
VIBHA DHAWAN
PM GANAPATHY
DK KHURANA
• PUBLISHED BY
IDRC - TIFNET
© IDRC -
IDRC
CRDI
CuD
CANADA
Through support for research, Canada's International Development

Research Centre (IDRC) assists scientists in developing countries to
identify long-term, workable solutions to pressing development prob-
lems. Support is given directly to scientists working in universities,
private government and non-profit organizations.
Priority is givenio iesearch aimed at achieving equitable and sustain-
able development Projects are designed to maximize the use
of local materials and to strengthen human and institutional capacity.
Led by the dedication and innovative approach of Third World scientists
--often in collaboration with Canadian partners — IDRC-supported
research is using science and technology to respond to a wide range of
complex issuesin the developing world.
IDRC is directed by an international Board of Governors and is funded
by the Government of Canada.
South Asia Regional Office 11 Jor Bagh, New Delhi 110 003
CONTENTS
Pages
Foreword V
Acknowledgements vii
Summary of Discussion and Recommendations ix
A. TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES

1. In vitro propagation of grape 3
(Vitis spp.): Establishment,
proliferation and development
of shoot-tip cultures on defined media
A K Singh, B.B. Sharma and R.M. Pandey
2. In Vitro propagation of Albizia lebbek 9
using axillary and apical buds*
Ashis Taru Roy
3. Forest tree tissue culture : Current 18
status and future prospects
G Lakshmi Sita
4. Mass propagation of Eucalyptus 31
spp. (E. grandis and E. globulus)
through tissue culture
P. Mohan Kumar, P. Rajasekaran and P. Haridas
5. Factors affecting somatic embryogenesis 38
in four-year-old callus of a fabaceous
tree - Albizia richardiana King & Pram
U.K Tomar and S.C. Gupta
B. COMMERCL&L ASPECTS OF MICROPROPAGATION

6. Commercialization of plant tissue 51
culture research in India
I.V. Ramanuja Rao
7. Tissue Culture Pilot scale facilities 59
for the mass cloning of forest tree
species
Vibha Dhawan
C. CONVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES OF IMPROVING
FOREST YIELDS
8. A brief account of forest tree 71
improvement in Uttar Pradesh,
India
Padmini Shiukumar
9. Comparison of tissue culture plants 76
against seedling in Tectona grandis
R.M. Dayal, V.K Koul and Anmol Kumar
10. Biomass enhancement of tree legumes 84
by Rhizobium and vescicular arbuscular
mycorrhizae
Sunil Khanna, Banwari Lal and Alok Adholeya
Annexure I 95
List-of participants
Annexure II 99
Workshop Schedule.
FOREWORD
The contribution of Plant Cell and Tissue Culture (PCTC) towards

rapid multiplication of unique cultivars of herbaceous plants is widely
acknowledged. Its role in mass propagation of woody perennials, however,
has not been adequately studied. Its adoption in tree improvement
programmes continue to be in its infancy due to intrinsic biological
hazards. With the growing concern for sustainable development of forest
resources and increasing emphasis on productivity of land; need for mass
propagation of improved trees through genetic engineering is attracting
global attention now.
The International Development Research Centre of Canada (IDRC)

realised the importance of PCTC in alleviating the socio-economic status
of third world countries, and thereby funded such researches on different
taxa including the forest trees. These PCTC projects have made notable
success in several countries. The Tissue Culture (India) project executed
by the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI) has played the pioneering
role in India in the field of tissue culture propagation of forest tree species,
earning national recognition to this Institute - as a centre for mass cloning
of arboreal taxa.
With the objective of bringing together scientists of diverse

background and experience in tissue culture of forestry species the
workshop on "Mass Propagation of Tree Species through in vitro Methods"
at New Delhi during March 1992 was organised. The papers presented in
the workshop ( many of which are reproduced in the Proceedings) reflect
the progress and advances achieved in tree tissue culture with a special
reference to the development of viable regenerative protocols, scaling up
feasibilities, networking of techniques and commercialization of processes.
It is hoped that the deliberations of this workshop will provide thrust to
micropropagation of forest tree species for attaining ecological security
and economic sustainability.
The International Development Research Centre and Tata Energy
Research Institute wish to place on record their deep appreciation to all
those who contributed to the success ofthe workshop - organizers, resource
persons and participants.
This is the first publication of the TIFNET (see inside back cover)
and it is sincerely hoped that it will enhance the usefulness of this informal
network.
New Delhi - 110 003 Dev. Khurana

September, 1993 TIFNET Coordinator
PM Ganapathy
Regional Forestry Coordinator (IDRC)
Cherla B. Sastry
Principal Program Officer (Forestry)IDRC,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
These proceedings are an outcome of the workshop "Mass

Propagation of Tree Species Through In vitro Methods" held at TIC, New
Delhi on March 16-17, 1992.
International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa,

Canada and Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI), New Delhi, India
were cosponsors of this workshop. Thanks are due to all those who have
contributed one way or the other in the organisation of this workshop from
technical support to the secreterial assistance.
arranging this workshop goes to Dr

A large portion of the credit for
CB Sastry, Principal Program Officer (Forestry), and the Regional
Director Mr VG Pande, IDRC, New Delhi for their invaluable leadership
and guidance for making this workshop a success.
These proceedings would not have come in its present form without
the contribution of all participants who attended this workshop. We
extend our thanks to them. The help of Mr Dharmendar Rawat in typing
this volume is gratefully acknowledged.
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Tissue culture is a well established technology for the ornamentals

and some horticultural species. While in literature, protocols are listed
for many tree species, very few can be applied for large scale propagation.
In trees there are distinct juvenile and adult phases. In the juvenility
phase, the tissues are more responsive to tissue culture techniques but in
the adult phase, the tissues become recalcitrant. Unfortunately, the trees
can only be evaluated for the desirable traits in the adult phase and there
are no juvenile characters which can be taken as markers for the later
growth.
The basic research in the field of tree tissue culture needs to be

intensified. Methods ofintroducingjuvenility in the adult tree by spraying
growth regulators, inducing coppicing, root suckers etc. should be worked
out for individual species. Some species which are conventionally
propagated through vegetative techniques of rooting of cuttings can also
be multiplied through tissue culture. Whenever a new cultivar is
introduced/developed for the initial bulking the regular practice should be
to clone it by tissue culture techniques. Apart from the advantage of fast
multiplication, the plants remain disease free.
B. COMMERCIAL ASP•ECTS OF MICROPROPAGATION
Tissue culture propagation is exploited on a commercial scale for

many ornamental plants and few horticultural plants. It is a routine
method of multiplication for orchids and many other ornamentals,
especially in the developed countries. In last few years, tissue culture has
emerged as a commercially viable venture for the developing countries.
These laboratories, however, are thriving on the exports. Tissue culture
propagation is labour intensive and wage rates being high in developed
countries, it is expected that the demand of tissue culture propagated
ix
plants will remain stable in the future. It is estimated that the market for
tissue culture plants is enormous and upto ten times the present
production level can be accomodated in the international market.
As industry is now interested in tissue culture, few problems have

arisen in the tissue culture research and one must take a timely action to
prevent good scientists being converted as administrators. It is important
that immediate steps are taken so as to ensure availability of good
scientists and managers in the years to come.
C. CONVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES OF IMPROVING

FOREST YIELDS
The productivity of Indian forests is very low and there is

considerable scope for the improvement At present there are large targets
in terms of area to be planted with meager financial assistance. The result
is that more emphasis is placed on the quantity and not on the quality.
Even collection of seeds from phenotypically superior trees is not done
either due to difficulty in collecting the seeds or since the amount collected
is inadequate from all type of trees. For some economically important tree
species seed orchards have been raised but the availability of seed from
orchards are far too low to meet the demand of the planting material.
Seeds are usually collected by the local casual labourers who pay more
emphasis on the total quantity collected. They are paid for total weight of
seeds collected on the basis of per kg seed.
The role of microorganisms in biomass production is again a

neglected field. It is well documented that considerable gains in yields are
achieved in crop plants by inoculating the efficient rhizobium strain. For
tree species, this exercise has been done for few species such as pines.
Conventionally the surface soil of pine plantation is mixed in the nursery
soil to ensure good establishment (indirect way of ensuring availability of
mycorrhizal strain). Perhaps studies in this direction would improve yields
as it is practically impossible to give artificial fertilizer to the forest trees.
Research in this direction should be intensffied especially to select
rhizobium/mycorrhizal strains which can survive in harsh environment.
x
Final Recommendations
Participants felt that such meetings should be organised at yearly
interval so as to have interaction among scientists involved in tree tissue
culture. In this field, at present there are far too many failures which
unfortunately are not reported in the research publications. What is
published is largely the successes and the problems encountered are not
discussed. For example, for Dalbergia sissoo, over half a dozen papers are
listed in the literature describing propagation both from juvenile and adult
explants. But in practical terms, it is seen that in vitro formed shpots fail
to multiply and thus from each nodal explant, one can, at best produce one
plant. This problem is common in many other tree species and basic
research is required to study the role of mother explant. Rooting is a severe
constraint for many tree species. Even species which root fairly easily in
vivo fail to root under in vitro conditions. Bamboo falls in this category
and many laboratories round the world are working on developing
techniques for bamboo tissue culture. The success is restricted to few
genera only. It is seen that the rooting of shoots from explants is much
difficult and varies between 20%-40%. Such protocols are not of much use
for large scale propagation.
The active participation of foresters in tree tissue culture work is

essential for its success. Identification of superior material should be done
carefully as any error in identifying the material will be reflected as
multiple copies of the inferior selection. Tissue culture should be a part of
the tree improvement programme.
xi
In Vitro Propagation of Grape (Vitis Spp.):
Establishment, Proliferation and Development
of Shoot-tip Cultures on Defined Media
A.K. B.B. Sharma** and R.M. Pandey

Tata Energy Research Institute
90, Jor Bagh
New Delhi- 110003
**Di•i of Fruits and Horticulture Technology
Indian Agricultural Research Institute
NewDelhi, India.
The paper reports multiplication methods for the three cultivars of grape
(Vitis vinifera L. cv. perleue, Pusa seedless and hybrid, 4-3). The
investigation reveals that growth and differentiation of shoot tip is cultivar
dependent and the rooting percentage declines with repeated sub culturing
(optimum during first five sub culture3).
Key words: Vitis, in vitro multiplication, clonal propagation
INTRODUCTION
Grape (Vitis spp) is conventionally propagated vegetatively. This
Lechrnque has come to stay because it is economical and efficient. The
basic drawback of the system, however, is that it does not allow rapid
production of vines that may be available in large number for commercial
production for the release of new varieties. It is highly desirable to define
the procedure needed for a fast rate of propagation in vitro. Shoot tip
culture of grapes have been studied in many laboratories. However, there
is still lack of published data on the survival of explants on initiation
medium and the effect of cytokixiins on proliferation and growth. This
3
paper reports survival and subsequent growth of explants of three
genotypes of grape on culture media. The influences of cytokinin / auxin
on shoot proliferation and rooting of shoot, are also described.
MATERIAL AND METhODS
Shoot tips (10mm in length) were removed from eight year old field
grown plants of grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Perlette', Pusa Seedless' and
hybrid, 'W 4-3'). Shoot tips were surface sterilized with 0.1 per cent (W/V)
mercuric chloride solution containing 0.01 per cent Tween 20 wetting
agent for seven minutes and rinsed seven times in sterile distilled water.
Isolated shoot tips were individually transferred in flasks containing 75
ml of MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium. Different concentrations of
NAA, IBA and BAP were tested for establishment of shoot tips, shoot
proliferation and rooting of in vitro raised shoots. The pH of the media
was adjusted to 5.8 prior to sterilization at 15 lbs for 15 minutes. All
media were gelled with 8 g 11 agar. Cultures were maintained at 26°C
with 16 h light (3500 lux).
RESULTS
a) Establishment of Shoot Tips inCulture

Survival of shoot tips was better at 10 M BAP in combination with
0.5 p.M NAA (Table 1). Shoot tip survival of Pusa Seedless' was similar
to that of Perlette'. However, survival of shoot tip of hybrid, 'W 4-3' was
significantly low as compared to the other two genotypes. It is also clear
from table 1 that increasing concentration otNAA from 0.5 p. M to 2.5 pM,
the survival of shoot tips declined in all the three genotypes.
Growth of the shoot tips improved significantly at the lowest

concentration of NAA (0.5pM) as compared to the 2.0 and 2.5 i.tM NAA.
Similar trend was recorded in all the three genotypes. BAP 10 p.M was
found to be most optimum which recorded maximum explant growth in all
the three genotypes.
4
As regard to time requirement, Perlette 'and 'Pusa Seedless 'have
similar time requirement (20-21 days) for establishment in the culture
medium.
New growth was visible after one and half weeks of culture but the
shoot tips were considered established only when the new growth spread
approximately to 2 cm diameter. Cultures attained this phase within
20-21 days. Bud cultures appeared fresh green healthy leaves with
reduced lamina. Slow growing shoot tips were frequently subcultured to
accelerate their growth. In contrast, hybrid W 4-3' genotype took 32-36
days for establishment in the same medium.
Table 1 : Effect of NAA and BAP on per cent survival/growth of

shoot tips in culture medium.
Growth regulators Survival/grow th % Mean
BAP NAA Pusa Perlette Hybrid
(jiM) (jiM) seedless W 4-3
5 0.5 87/70 90/84 69/47 82.00/67.00
2.0 65/57 76/78 38/40 59.67/58.33
2.5 58/30 73/70 30/28 53.67/42.67
10 0.5 88/85 89/87 80/65 85.67/79.00

2.0 68/55 80/70 58/25 68.67/50.00
2.5 50/40 73/67 47/40 56.67/49.00
15 0.5 85/00 81/00 75/00 80.33/00

2.0 70/00 73/00 57/00 66.67/00.
2.5 70/00 73/00 58/00 67.00/00
Mean 71.22/50.16 78.60/76 36.88140.88
C.D. at 5% for means NAA and BAP
24.79 14.63
C.D. at 5% for any two genotypes 14.31
5
b) Shoot Multiplication
Effect of different concentrations of BAP (5,10,15 and 2 ji. M) on in
vitro shoot multiplication was studied. After 21 days of culture in
establishment medium, shoot tips were transferred on to 16 different
proliferation medium. Highest number of shoots (13) were recorded
within 3 weeks of transfer in proliferation medium containing 10 p.M BAP.
Shoot multiplication was further increased (18 folds) by keeping these
shoots into the same medium for another three weeks. 'Pusa Seedless' and
'Perlette' performed equally well as regard to shoot multiplication.
However, shoot production per initial explant in hybrid 'W 4-3' was low
(9 shoots per explant) under similar cultural conditions and duration
(Table 2). During the process of shoot multiplication fungal and bacterial
contamination was noticed, apparently with no detrimental effect on
growth during subcultures.
Table 2 : Response of shoot tips on shoot production at different

levels of BAP
Media Genotypes Mean

constitution Pusa Perlette Hybrid
seedless W 4-3
MS+BAP 5p.M 10 8 5 7.67
MS+BAP 10 p.M 18 16 9 14.33
MS+BAP 15 p.M 13 11 8 10.69
MS+BAP 13 12 6 10.33
Mean 13.50 11.75 7.00
C.D. at 5% for concentration means 2.33
C.D. at 5% for any two genotypes 2.02
c) In vitro Rooting
Nodal explants (a portion of stem each with one node) were prepared
from each in vitro raised plant and transferred individually onto rooting
medium. Different concentrations of IBA (1,5,10,15,20 jiM) were tried for
6
induction of root. Primary root development was lowest at IBA
concentrations of 1 and 20 jiM. Number of primary roots increased in all
the three genotypes upto 10 jiM IBA in 7 days. Maximum number of
primary roots were formed at 10 p.M IBA in 7 days of culture period.
Maximum number of primary roots were formed at 10 p. M IBA in 7 days
of culture period. Maximum number of primary roots in all the three
genotypes were formed at 10 p. M IBA after 7 days. Number of primary
root ranged from 4.5 to 5.6 and the root system developed normally with
secondary and tertiary branching whereas at high concentration of IBA
i.e. 20 jiM shoots remained stunted.
DISCUSSION
The results of the present investigation reveal that the growth and
differentiation of explants (shoot tips) of grapevine are under strong
hormonal control. This is in conformity with the finding of Novak and
Juvova (1983). The essentiality of NAA and BAP for shoot tip
establishment have also been investigated by Chee et al. (1984) with Vitis
spp. The effect of cytokinins on shoot multiplication of grape have been
confirmed by various workers (Pool and Powell, 1975; Jone and Webb,
1978; Muffins and Srinivasan, 1976; Novak and Juvova, 1983 and Chee
et al., 1984). Adventitious shoot formation is enhanced considerably by
arresting the apical dominance of shoot. Cytokinin is known to eliminate
the apical dominance (Vasil, 1985). Barless and Skene (1980) reported
that the in vitro shoot multiplication is a function of BAP concentration.
Under present study 10 p. M of BAP proved its efficiency by giving
maximum number of shoots per initial explants. The same trend was
followed in all the three genotypes tested. However, at lower
concentration of BAP,( less than 10 jiM) multiple shoot formation declined
drastically. In contrast, the higher dose of BAP i.e. 20 p. M produced large
number of weak shoots which did not root properly and died after 15-20
days.
In vitro raised shoots did not vary significantly in their rooting

potential. Excellent rooting was recorded with 10 p. M IBA. However, 0.1
p. M IBA have been reported to induce optimum rooting of shoots of various
clones of grapevine (Novak and Juvova, 1983). Under present studies,
7
optimum rooting was recorded in the very first subculture of the nodal
explant.
REFERENCES
Barless M. and Skene K.G.M., 1980. Studies of the fragmental apex of

grapevine I. The regeneration capacity of leaf primordial
fragments in vitro. J. Exp. Bot., 31:483-488.
Chee R., Pool R.M. and Bucher R., 1984. A method for large scale in
vitro propagation of Vitis. New York Food and Life Sciences
Bulletin, 109: 1984.
Jone R. and Webb K.J., 1978. Callus and axillary bud culture of Vitis
vinifera. Sylvaner Riesling, Scientia Hortic., 9:55-60.
Mallins M.C. and Srinivasan C., 1976. Somatic embryos and plantlet
from an ancient clone of the grapevire (cv. Cabernet -Sauvignon)
by apomixis in vitro. J. Exp. Bot., 27 :1022-1030.
Novak F.J. and Juvova Z., 1983. Clonal propagation of grapevine
through in vitro axillary bud culture. Sci. Hortic., 18:231-240.
Pool R.M. and Dowell L.E., 1975. The influence of cytokinin on in vitro
shoot development of 'Concord' grape. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sd.,
100:200-202.
Vasil I.K., (editor), 1985. Cell Structure and Somatic Cell Genetics of
Plants. Vol.2. Academic Press, New York, pp. 149-212.
8
In Vitro Propagation of Albizia lebbek Using
Axifiary and Apical Buds
ASHIS TARU ROY

Unicorn Biotek Ltd.
2nd Floor, Tirumála Complex, S.D. Road
Secunderabad - 500 003, Andhra Pradesh
An in vitro propagation protocol has been worked out for axillary and apical
bud multiplication of Albizia lebbek L. . The buds (2-3 mm long) excised
from off-shoots of elite Albizia trees (10-15 years old) were placed on MS
medium supplemented with BAP (1.0 mg F1) and IAA (0.1 mg F1).
Established shoots were multiplied on the MS medium supplemented with
BAP (2.0mg F1) and IAA (0.5 mg F1). The highest degree of rhizogenesis
was achieved on medium supplemented with IBA (0.1 mg 1k).
Key words : Albizia lebbek., apical bud, tissue culture,

axillary bud
INTRODUCTION
The author has conducted a critical study on in vitro propagation of

Albizia lebbek L. (East Indian walnut) mainly because the species is fast
growing and produces good quality fuel wood besides being an excellent
fodder tree. Thus it is a highly desirable tree from sociai forestry point of
view. The method of propagation involving a callusing phase has a
built-in-uncertainty for clonal uniformity as callus cells are not stable
during tissue culture. In order to circumvent any possibility of such
variations, apical and axillary bud culture and their subsequent rooting
9
is the best alternative. On Albizia nñcropropagation there are only two
reports available (Gharyal and Maheshwari, 1983; Rao, 1985 personal
communication). No commercially viable protocol is available for
true-to-type Albizia plantlet propagation. In the present paper, the
results of studies on axillary and apical bud regenerated plantlets, which
are true-to-type are presented.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Off-shoots of elite Albizia lebbek (10-15 years old) trees growing in

the fields of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur served as the
source of explant material. Shoot tips (2.0-2.5 cm in length) or nodal
segments (2.5 cm) containing lateral buds were surface disinfected in a
solution of sodium hypochiorite (1%) with 0.1% Tween 20 as surfactant for
15 mm. After sterilization tissues were washed with sterile distilled water
three times. Apical bud explants were obtained by removing two or three
pairs of leaves and excising the terminal 3-5 mm of the shoot. To obtain
lateral bud explants the leaf scale covering the bud was first removed. A
shallow incision (1-2 mm) was made into the stem and the bud excised
with a small portion of the adjacent stem tissue. These explants were
inoculated in culture tubes.
The basic MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medIum was used

throughout the experiment. The effect of the cytokinins BAP, Kn, 2iP, and
auxins NAA and IAA were tested either alone or in combination for bud
establishment and multiplication. The pH of the medium was adjusted to
5.7 with 1 N KOH or 1 N HC1 prior to sterilisation. The medium was gelled
with 0.8% agar and was dispensed as 25 ml aliquotes in 25 x 150 mm tubes
and was autoclaved at 1.46 kg cm2. Media were cooled as slants of 450•
Cultures were maintained under low intensity illumination at 16 hr
photoperiod. The cultures were incubated at 26 ± 2°C and at relative
humidity of 50-60 per cent.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The effect of different cytokinins and auxins on axillary and apical
bud establishment were studied. A number of preliminary experiments
10
revealed that phytohormones are essential for establishment of the
culture. In a series of trials the MS medium was supplemented with
combination of cytokimns and auxms. The results are summarized in
table 1. The concentration of three cytokinins viz, BAP, Kn and 2iP were
kept at 0.5, 1.0,2.0 mg 1.1 with combination of IAA or NAA at 0.1 mgF1.
TABLE 1: Effect of different cytokinins and auxins on axillary and

apical bud for establishment after 4 weeks of culture on MS
medium (16 hr photoperiod, 3000 lux, 26±2°C)
Cytokinin Auxin No. of Cultures

Cultures with
sprouted
buds (%)
BAP 0.5 IAAO.1 108 70.4
1.0 0.1 104 96.1
2.0 0.1 119 64.7
0.5 NAAO.1 117 64.1
1.0 0.1 87 85.0
2.0 0.1 75 56.0
KIN 0.5 IAA 0.1 122 66.4
1.0 0.1 111 54.1
2.0 0.1 86 38.4
0.5 NAA 0.1 105 59.0
1.0 0.1 98 43.9
2.0 0.1 99 31.3
2iP 0.5 LAA 0.1 107 46.7
1.0 0.1 92 31.5
2.0 0.1 109 17.4
0.5 NAAO.1 92 36.9
1.0 0.1 94 21.3
2.0 0.1 108 8.3
11
The effect of Kn and 2iP with any auxin combination was less as compared
to BAP. It was found that highest percentage (96.9%) of bud sprouting
occurred in the medium supplemented with 1 mg 1.1 BAP.
When IAA was replaced with NAA, higher percentage of sprouting

(85.0%) was observed. For bud break of the tested cytokinins, BAP is the
best and for proper shoot growth, it should be supplemented with either
JAA or NAA.
Effect of three cytokinins and two auxins were studied for their
efficiency on multiple shoot formation from sprouted buds. It has been
previously noted that on hormone -free medium no multiple shoots were
formed. Table 2 shows multiple shoot formation from sprouted buds at
various concentrations of cytolcinins. In general, with increase in
concentration of BAP, multiple shoot formation was increased. Maximum
number of shoots per explant (2.7) were obtained with 5.0 mg BAP.
Increasing the BAP concentration to 10.0 mg F1 did not result in an
increase in the number of shoots. Compared to BAP, Kn and 2iP were less
efficient in inducing bud break and multiple shoot formation.
Comparison of the results achieved on IAA and NAA supplemented

medium indicated that low levels of IAA stimulated the highest number
of multiple shoots, with 0.5 mgF1 giving the best result. IAA at 5.0 mg 11
and NAA at all tested concentrations resulted in a reduction in the number
of shoots per culture (Table 3).
An experiment was conducted with BAP (2.0, 5.0 and 10.0 m g 11)
and LAA (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg F') in order to determine the optimum
concentration of cytokinin and auxin needed for shoot formation.
Maximum number of shoots (3.8) were produced on BAP at 2.0mg 11 and
LAA at 0.5 mg F' (Table 4). It was observed that for multiple shoot
formation, a combination of BAP (2-10 mg 11) and IAA (0.5 mg 11) was
optimal.
Experiment on explant type (apical and axillary buds) on

multiple shoot formation was tested (Table 5). Apical bud and axillary
buds were cultured on a medium continuing 2.0 mg 1' BAP and 0.5 mg F'
IAA to compare differences in shoot proliferation between these two
12
explants. Both apical bud and axillary buds produced equal number of
shoots and no difference was observed in shoot proliferation.
Culture of established buds on a medium containing 2.0 BAP

and 0.5 mgl1 IAA resulted in a 3.8 fold increase in 5 weeks. Shoots formed
in vitro were recultured onto the same medium and shoot multiplication
was determined after 2nd and 3rd subculture. About five fold
multiplication was observed at both samples (4.9 ± 0.6 shoots per culture
at 3rd subculture). However, 5th subculture onwards the cultures
appeared to be visibly degenerating, as characterized mainly by increasing
number of senescing leaves.
Table 2: Effect of different concentrations of cytokinins on

established culture for multiple shoot formation, after 5 weeks of
culture on MS medium (16 hr photoperiod, 3000 lux, 26±2 °C)
Cytokinin Conc.1 No. of Cultures No. of

. (mg l ) cultures with shoots per
multiple culture
shoots(%)
BAP 0.5 17 35.3 1.1
1.0 22 40.9 1.3 ± 0.4

2.0 19 63.2 2.4 ± 0.4
5.0 25 72.0 2.7±0.6
10.0 26 46.2 1.4 ± 0.4
Kn 0.5 18 38.9 1.1±0.3
1.0 27 51.9 1.4 ± 0.4
2.0 29 48.3 1.5 ± 0.5
5.0 25 32.0 1.2 ± 0.3
10.0 31 25.8 1.0±0.1
2iP 0.5 30 23.3 0.8±0.1
1.0 29 31.0 1.3 ± 0.2
2.0 24 25.0 1.0 ± 0.2
5.0 29 17.2 1.0±0.1
10.0 21 14.3 1.0±0.1
13
Table 3: Eeffect of different concentrations of IAA and NAA on
established cultures for multiple shoot formation, after 5 weeks
of culture on MS medium (16 hr photoperiod, 3000 lux, 26±2°C)
Auxin Conc. No. of Cultures No. of

(mg 11) cultures with shoots per
multiple culture
shoots
- (%)
IAA 0.1 38 47.4 1.4 ± 0.3

0.5 36 63.9 2.1 ± 0.8
1.0 29 55.2 1.4 ± 0.2
• 2.0 22 45.5 1.1 ± 0.2
5.0 17 35.3 1.0 ± 0.2
NAA 0.1 25 40.0 1.1±0.4

0.5 31 51.7 1.7 ± 0.8
1.0 17 41.2 1.2 ± 0.3
2.0 30 30.0 1.0 ± 0.2
5.0 28 25.0 1.0±0.1
Many of the shoots which were regenerated did not undergo

rhizogenesis. Only 10-15% of the shoots showed root formation on rooting
medium. Leafy shoots of 4-7 ems length were placed in media with
different concentrations of IAA or IBA (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 6).
It was observed that IBA was more effective in root induction as compared
to IAA. In case of IAA, 0.5 mg 1.1 was the best concentration. The best
response in IBA was obtained in 0.1 mg 1.1. After about 2-3 weeks when
the plantlets had well developed roots, they were transferred to pots
containing sterilized soil mixture (1 soil :2 peat :7 perlite) in a 10 x 40 cm
plastic container, covered with a plastic bag to prevent desiccation and
maintained in a growth chamber at 26± 2°C under high light intensity.
After 3-4 weeks plantlets were transplanted into soil. The percentage of
survival was 50-60 per cent.
14
Table 4: Effect of BAP (2.0,5.0,10.0 mg 1') and LAA (0.1,0.5,1.0 mg
1') on established cultures for multiple shoot formation, after 5
weeks of culture on MS medium (16 hr photoperiod, 3000 lux, 26±
2°C)
BAP (mg 11) IAA (mg 1.1) No. of Cultures No. of
c itures with shoots
multiple per
shoots culture
(%)
2.0 0.1 41 60.9 2.3 ± 0.9

5.0 0.1 29 65.6 2.1 ± 0.6
10.0 0.1 37 51.3 1.9±0.6
2.0 0.5 38 100.0 3.8 ± 1.0
5.0 0.5 34 85.2 3.0 ± 0.8
10.0 0.5 39 64.1 2.7 ± 0.4
2.0 1.0 25 56.0 1.9 ± 0.4
5.0 1.0 44 45.5 1.6 ± 0.4
10.0 1.0 39 38.5 1.4 ± 0.2
Table 5: Effect of explant type on multiple shoot formation, after

5 weeks of culture on MMS-C medium supplemented with BAY (2.0
mg and IAA (0.5 mg 1") (16 hr photoperiod, 3000 lux, 26±2°C)
Explant type No. of cultures Cultures with No. of

multiple shoots per
shoots (%) culture
Apicalbud 44 95.5 3.8± 1.0
Axillary bud 49 100.0 3.7 ± 0.9
15
Table 6: Induction of root formation on 4-7 cm long leafy shoots.
In each treatment 25-30 macro-shoots were treated for
rhizogenesis. Rooting was recorded at the end of 6 weeks
Growth Concentratioi1 for Percentage ± SD

regulator rooting (mg F )
Control 0.0 18.2 ± 2.9

IBA 0.1 89.7±8.5
0.5 72.4 ± 6.2
1.0 61.4±5.3
2.0 54.5±4.3
IAA 0.1 32.2±3.4
0.5 57.6 ± 5.6
1.0 42.9 ±4.1
2.0 22.1±2.4
Gharyal and Maheshwari (1983) reported successful plant
production from meristem tip by using IAA. In our report it is found
that IAA combined with BAP gives a high rate of multiplication.
The culture of apical and axillary buds onto the medium formulated
from this research resulted in a 3-4 fold multiplication after first
subculture. However, transfer of shoots which proliferated in vitro onto
the same medium resulted in a 5-fold increase in the same length of time.
No increase in shoot proliferation was achieved by prolonging the culture
period beyond second subculture. In actual practice, with ideal
laboratory and nursery facilities, the results can be further improved and
thousands of uniform saplings can be supplied on demand.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This research has been financed by a grant (No. 3/(5)581-NES/564)
from the Department of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (DNES),
Government of India.
16
REFERENCES
Gharyal P.K. and Maheshwari S.C., 1983. In vitro differentiation of
plantlets from tissue cultures of Albizia lebbek L. Plant Cell
Tissue. Organ Cult., 2:49-53.
Murashige T. and Skoog F., 1962. A revised medium for rapid growth
and bioassays with tobacco tissue cultures Physiol Plant., 15:
473-497.
Rao P.V.L., 1985. (Personal Communication) unpublished Ph.D. thesis
I.T.T., Kharagpur.
17
Forest Tree Tissue Culture: Current Status and
Future Prospects
G. Lakshmi Sita
Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore 560 012, India
In this paper the need for tree biotechnology and the goals set and achieved
at Indian Institute of Science (I.I.Sc.) are discussed. Species selected are
commercially important either for the oil (sandalwood), timber (rosewood)
or multiple uses such as eucalypts. The cultures are initiated from the adult
trees marked for the desired characters. The plantlets are successfully
transferred to the soil. The paper also describes the main hurdle in
commercialisation of tissue culture techniques for tree species. It is
important that industry feels the requirement of high quality planting
material. At the same time attempts should be made to reduce the cost of
plantiet production. The research results of the author are still at the testing
stage and the clonal fidelity will become available with the planting material
attaining maturity. However, in eucalypts, tissue culture raised plants are
out performing the seed raised plantation.
Key words: Eucalypts, genetic manipulation, micropropagation,

rosewood, sandalwood, tree improvement.
INTRODUCTION
Forest tree tissue culture has witnessed remarkable advances

during the last decade and half and has come of age with a bright future
(Bonga and Durzan, 1987). In the early 70's very few scientists had
ventured into this area in view of the inherent problems associated with
18
the perennial crops. Also plants of high economic value such as
ornamentals and horticultural plants received more attention. General
interest in tissue culture propagation arose with its grand success with
orchids. In fact, all commercial orchid growers have a tissue culture
laboratory attached to their nurseries. In the past two decades, the
technique has expanded to include many other ornamentals and some
horticultural species. In comparison, tissue culture of forest tree species
is comparatively at a developing stage. In the recent past, in addition to
the forest biologists in government, industries and universities, molecular
biologists are also getting involved in tree tissue culture research. A
retrospect of the scenario of tree tissue culture clearly shows that major
advances have been made in tree tissue culture including genetic
transformation of trees in the last decade. Genetic transformation has
successfully been achieved in hybrid poplar (Fillate et al., 1987) and
Douglas fir (Dandekar et al., 1987). However, there is only one example
of genetic transformation of a forest tree for a potentially commercially
important trait (Sederoffet al., 1986).
According to Winton (1978) who reviewed tree tissue culture

research, 2.5 billion trees are planted every year in the USA alone and at
some point upto 10% might be required from aseptic cultures. That means
we would have to come out with several million propagules each year. To
achieve such large numbers, the only practical method in the long run is
somatic embryogenesis in suspension cultures. The fact that this method
has not been successful for trees should not deter us from making a
beginning.. While it is still difficult to achieve somatic embryogenesis
routinely in all the species, each year the risk seems smaller and each
year our knowledge grows both from empirical and basic biochemical and
now molecular studies. In this paper the need for trees biotechnology and
the goals and achievements set and reached at Indian Institute of Science
is discussed.
Problems of Conventional Tree Improvement
Forest genetics and tree improvement research in India is hardly
three decades old (Krishnamurty, 1988). Tree improvement by
conventional methods of propagation and breeding is slow and time
consuming. Due to the increase in population, the demand for quality
and quantity of firewood and wood based products is continuously
19
increasing. To meet the increasing demands and severe shortages,
currently practiced tree improvement programmes are not adequate.
Production of biomass is critical for over 5,76,900 villages in India, not
only for the supply of fuel and fodder, but also to meet the wood needs of
the country for timber, pulp and fibre. On one hand the forest cover is
gradually shrinking, and on the other hand, the gap between supply and
demand of wood based material is widening resulting in near crisis
situation. Hence there is an urgent need to improve the quality and
quantity of forest trees to meet the demand.
Extensive work has been done on agricultural crops by conventional

methods, but very little on tree improvement. Trees belonging to
horticultural and plantation crops have been considerably improved over
the centuries, since they-were brought under cultivation. Forests are
often left to regenerate naturally or are artificially regenerated by
seedling or planting seedlings. In either instance, forests receive
minimum cultivation during their lives compared to agronomic crops
which have undergone innumerable selective modifications. On the other
hand forest trees suffer a 10,000 year deficiency in applying selection
pressure targeted to human needs (Haissig et al., 1987). As a result,
natural and artificial regeneration of forests has mostly occurred from
seed produced from natural stands of wild type. Present day forest trees
are quite heterozygous and are imitations of trees, nature designed for
their needs. Breeding programmes of trees are hampered due to long life
cycles, polyploidy, complex pollination mechanisms, polygenic control of
desirable characters, self sterility favouring heterozygous state, lack of
selection methods and natural barriers of interspecific crosses etc.
(Kedharnath, 1988).
Forest trees have been attractive model systems to work, not only
because of the challenge they pose, but also because of their economic
importance. In the Department of Microbiology at the Indian Institute of
Science, our aim has been to study the basic and applied aspects of
economically important trees with the long term goal of improvement by
genetic manipulation, using cell and tissue culture technology and
recombinant DNA technology. During the last 15 years we have
developed tissue culture techniques for mass propagation of sandalwood
(Lakshmi Sita, 1979, 1986a, 1987, 1993a; Lakshmi Sita et al., 1979,
20
1980a,b, 1991); eucalypts (Lakshmi Sita 1979, 1981, 1986b; Lakshini Sita
& Vaidyanathan, 1979; Lakshmi Sita & Chattopadhyay, 1988; Lakshmi
Sita et aL, 1986); rosewood (Lakshmi Sita and Ravindaran, 1991;
Lakshmi Sita and Raghava Swaniy, 1992; Raghava Swamy et aL, 1992);
mulberry (Lakshmi Sita and Ravindaran, 1989; Lakshmi Sita and
Sreenatha, 1992), red sandalwood (Lakshmi Sita and Sreenatha, 1992)
and cashew (Lakshmi Sita, 1989) etc. Some of these results will be
discussed.
Sandalwood (Santalum album)

Sandalwood is commercially important for its essential oil and the
wood is used for carving handicrafts. The world requirement for
sandalwood oil is 600 tonnes of which only 100 tonnes is met by natural
resources. In addition, the production of sandalwood is going down since
1974. One of the causes, is the spike disease caused by mycoplasma like
organisms (MLO). There are isolated patches of disease resistant plants
in the forest areas where the surrounding area is infected. Hence, there
is an urgent need to improve the natural resources to meet the world
demand. In order to develop mass propagation methods for desirable
qualities such as disease resistance and good heart wood containing
plants, tissue culture methods were employed. It is more convenient to
use germinating seedlings as explants for initiation of cultures as juvenile
explants prove to be more responsive. However, for commercial
application of the developed technology it is desirable to have selected
superior phenotypes. In other words, when aim is cloning of superior
genotypes one must initiate cultures from the tissue from the proven tree
which is usually possible in the adult phase. However, we have
successfully induced cultures from adult plant material and
differentiation by somatic embryogenesis was obtained from callus
cultures. Over the years, we have established techniques for routine
propagation of sandalwood. Tissue cultured plants have been established
on the ground. We had the opportunity to study the growth and
establishment of trees reared by clonal methods (Lakshmi Sita, 1993). The
oldest tree (8 years) has now grown to a height of 7-8 mts and 65 cm in
girth. Trees have flowered and fruited. These trees were compared with
the plus trees from which cultures were initiated. Normally sandalwood
plants are cut around 40 years. It is possible by selection of elite materials
21
and multiplication by tissue culture methods to reduce the harvesting
period to half or even less.
In addition to developing diploid plants, tissue culture methods for

the multiplication of triploid plants using endosperm as the explant
source were also developed. It is well known that triploid plants are fast
growing as in aspen (Populus tremuloides). In diploids as well as triploids
early developmental stages from globular embryos to fully developed
plants were studied histologically. Observations from the suspension
cultures showed the origin of the embryos from multicellular aggregates
rather than from single cells.
Protoplast Cultures
Isolation of protoplasts, and regeneration of plants is a prerequisite
for any study on genetic manipulation. We have isolated protoplasts from
mesophyll tissue, suspension cultures of cliploid and triploid cultures.
Isolation and culture of protoplasts was better from the cells of suspension
cultures. Various parameters such as pH, enzyme concentrations,
concentration of the osmoticum were studied in relation to, protoplast
yield. Isolated protoplasts divided and formed colonies and callus
subsequently. Isolated protoplasts were observed to develop into
plantlets.
Gene Cloning and Expression

Gene cloning and transfer have limited success in forest trees and
very little work is done among the tropical trees. For successful genetic
manipulation in trees, an understanding of regeneration from
cell/protoplast culture and genome organization is a prerequisite. Having
successfully established regeneration system in sandalwood via somatic
embryogenesis, we have selected this as a model system to understand
the molecular basis of differentiation. In order to understand and realize
the long term goals of cloning genes for disease resistance/yield or any
other desirable characters, technique of gene cloning and gene transfer
need to be established with known genes. In vitro somatic embryogenesis
has been exploited to study the expression of a-amylase during
differentiation from undifferentiated callus. Differentiation of somatic
22
embryos was obtained as a result of gibberellic acid (GA). The
mechanism of regulation mediated by any phytohormone is far from clear.
They are thought to predominantly control gene expression at both
transcriptional and translation levels. Hormones exerting
transcriptional control, enhance preferential synthesis of particular gene
transcripts, ultimately leading to enzyme induction. a-amylase thus
induced was studied in detail (Mridula, unpublished). A progressive
increase in the a-amylase activity was seen throughout the development
of somatic embryos. A 40-fold induction of a -amylase specific activity
was seen in the fully mature embryos.
The induction of the enzyme .is clearly a result of GA action as

embryos obtained on NAA and kinetin lack the induction of a-amylase
and show activity comparable to the levels detected in the
undifferentiated callus. The molecular weight of the a-amylase induced
by GA was found to be 45 KD by Western blot analysis, using polyclonal
antibodies raised against purified a-amylase from Aspergillus oryzae. It
has been established unequivocally that GA induces the a-amylase gene
expression. Amongst all the GA regulated genes, a-amylase is the only
enzyme where significant progress has been made in understanding the
molecular aspects, especially in barley. There are no reports on the
a-amylase cloning from somatic embryos of sandalwood or any other in
vitro system. Moreover, there is no information on these genes or the
control of their expression in forest trees. Hence it was thought that the
cloning of a-amylase from sandalwood would facilitate in understanding
the gene cloning and organization in trees of a conserved gene family
like a-amylase. As a preliminary step, to facilitate the study of
a-amylase gene regulation and expression at molecular level, it was
necessary to isolate an a-amylase eDNA clone. Since an induction of
a-amylase specific transcripts to 25-fold was seen in GA treated tissue,
wherein embryo's were induced, mRNA was isolated to prepare a cDNA
library with the barley a-amylase clone P155.3 as a probe
(Muthukrishanan, personal communication) several positive clones were
identified. Of these one clone named PSamR, was characterized further.
The physical map was constructed using Sanger's dideoxy method and
found to contain 800 bp and thus represents a-amylase gene only
partially. The sequence comparison of the partial cDNA clone with known
a-amylase cDNA sequences accessed from the data base reveal homology
23
in the range of 66% to 55% at the nucleotide level. At the amino acid level
homology of 43% has been obtained with a barley gene. These parameters
are significant to indicate that PSarnR represents an a-amylase gene
from sandalwood. Work is in progress to sequence the complete
a-amylase gene from sandalwood (paper communicated).
Thus the technology developed will help in future genetic

manipulation in sandalwood.
Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia)

Tree legumes are greatly under exploited. Rosewood is one of the
most valuable timbers belonging to the family and has been in the world
market for centuries commanding high prices. These trees are slow
growing and native to India but were once widespread in distributions.
Their export value is more than the local market and is already beyond
the reach of common man because of exorbitant prices. Rapid propagation
of superior trees of good form, cylindrical bole, narrow crown and having
disease resistance is of utmost importance. Conventional propagation
by grafts and rooted cuttings is time consuming and not applicable for
raising large number of plants. Seed propagation is not satisfactory as
the percentage of germination is very low and seedlings are highly
variable. With a view to develop tissue culture techniques for mass
propagation of this species, two approaches were considered viz., 1)
Induction of organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis (Lakshmi Sita
and Raghava Swami, 1992), 2) Induction of multiple shoots (Lakshmi Sita
and Ravindaran, 1991) by manipulation of cytokinins from axillary
meristems and apical meristems. Plants have established in the ground
and some have grown to a height of 30 ft in 5 years. The technology is
ready for mass propagation. Detailed experimental techniques are
available in the quoted published papers.
Eucalypts (Eucalyptus spp.)

Since the success with sandalwood our attention has turned to
various forest trees of commercial value. Micropropagation methods from
axillary and terminal meristems were developed in respect of three
species ofEucalyptus namely E. citriodora, E. grandis and E. tereticornis
24
for rapid propagation of elite trees. E. citriodora is important for its
essential oil. In order to multiply high essential oil containing species
tissue culture methods were used. Upto 100 shoots can be obtained from
one tube. Shoots can be separated and rooted out successfully. Eucalyptus.
grandis and E. tereticornis are largely used in the paper industry for pulp.
In seedling raised conventional plantations variation from plant to plant
is very high. In order to multiply plants with larger girth and straight
bole, tissue culture methods were developed. Excised shoots could be
successfully rooted and planted out.
Similarly in other economically important trees like red

sandalwood, cashew, mulberry etc., tissue culture approaches have been
used.
CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

Work done in our laboratory as well as other national and
international laboratories, clearly shows that biotechnology strategies
have great promise for the improvement of trees but have not progressed
much beyond micropropagation. Biotechnological applications of trees
have lagged behind those of several herbaceous crop species, because adult
tissues of many tree species from mature individuals are recalcitrant to
tissue culture techniques. Trees usually respond much more like the
recalcitrant cereals or grasses in culture. The present status of tree tissue
culture, however, is adequate to initiate commercialization programmes
in respect of a few species. Already commercialization has proved
successful in case of Eucalyptus species (Mohan Kumar et. al., 1993).
Technology in other trees like rosewood and poplar is ready. In trees,
such as, hybrid poplar and loblolly pine and Douglas fir, transformation
has already been reported, but only one example of commercially
important trait introduced viz, herbicide resistance glyphosate into
hybrid poplar. Preliminary studies have, however, shown that
transformed plants have only elevated levels of tolerance, but not
resistance.
Most of the tree tissue culture research has centered on methods,

primarily the development of culture media and techniques to induce
juvenility in trees for micropropagation. The thrust is towards methods,
25
which have commercial use and the potential for patents. Unless the
need for the development is felt by the industry, research cannot progress
further. Also, unless the cost of plantlet production by tissue culture
techniques is brought down considerably to match with or less than the
conventional methods of propagation, the efforts are not worthy enough
to justify. Data of 40 year old vegetatively propagated white pine
established from rooted cuttings out produced trees of seed origin.
Further the clonal fidelity of forest trees particularly conifers, will become
available as present experimental plantings mature.
The eucalypt tissue cultured tree plantings are doing very well and
performing better than the seed raised plants. Even sandalwood tissue
culture raised trees (Lakshmi Sita, 1993a) are performing better. Clonal
fidelity in trees micropropagated by organogenesis has not been
adequately tested with many species. However, the uniformity observed
so far in the plantings is encouraging. In rosewood also we found that 5
year old plants obtained by organogenesis are doing better than the root
sucker, or the seed raised plants. Commercial application of tissue
culture is still limited to micropropagation of few trees. However, this is
changing in India as Department of Biotechnology has sponsored two pilot
scale facilities for the mass cloning of forest tree species. Many forest trees
are under trial.
With the exception of sandalwood and Norway spruce, the

conversion of embryoids into plantlets is difficult to achieve with high
frequency. In addition, somatic embryogenesis in tree tissue culture is
highly genotype specific. We have also observed the difference in some
varieties of sandalwood, where differentiation has proved to be difficult.
Somatic embryogenesis or putative embryogenesis has been observed by
us in Eucalyptus species, teak, mulberry and cashew, wherein
embryogenesis, observed is not physiologically similar to the zygotic
embryos. In cashew and mulberry, precocious germination has been
observed, resulting in only well developed root. Shoot formation was
rudimentary. Since the potential of somatic embryogenesis is well
documented by several authors there is an urgent need for further
research to develop embryos which are physiologically similar to zygotic
embryos and to develop successful somatic embryogenesis in most of the
economically important trees. There is a clear and better understanding
26
of somatic embryogenesis now as compared to what it was fifteen years
ago. Forest tree tissue culture has now reached a stage where routine
micropropagation will soon become part of silviculturist tool. It can only
reproduce a specific genotype which cannot result in genetic improvement
per Se. Research on micropropagation will stress on mass propagation of
mature trees and reduction of costs. Research on micropropagation by
somatic embryogenesis has to be intensified to reach the ultimate goal of
mass propagation since it also allows automation which in turn would
reduce the cost per propagule. Tree improvement in the true sense can
only be achieved by somaclonal/gametoclonal variation and other
strategies. Organogenesis based on adventitious shoot bud formation
from callus cultures is now the only available method for obtaining
somaclonal variation in most forest trees. However, the improvement of
techniques in future will allow the exploitation of cell culture techniques
(cell suspensions and protoplasts) for obtaining somaclones. This type of
research will take many years because of long life span of trees.
High frequency regeneration of forest tree species from leaf pieces

(discs) will foster rapid progress on the application of recombinant DNA
technology to achieve the goals of genetic manipulation for tree
improvement. Research already done in conifers indicates that it is
possible to insert commercially important genes. Increased frequency of
regeneration from individual cells and protoplasts will allow progress in
direct DNA insertion and organelles insertion and somatic cellular
hybridizations to realize the hitherto difficult interspecific and
intergeneric crosses.
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Regeneration of whole plants from suspension cultures of
sandalwood. Curr. Sci., 49: 196-198.
Lakshmi Sita G., Vaidyanathan C.S. and Ramakrishnan T., 1982.
Applied aspects of tissue culture with special reference to tree
improvement. Curr. Sci., 51:88-92.
29
Mohan Kumar P., Rajasekaran P. and Haridas P., 1993. Mass
Propagation of Eucalyptus spp. (E.grandis andE. globulus). In V.
Dhawan, PM Ganapathy and DK Khurana (editors). Tissue
Culture of Forest Tree Species : Recent Researches in India.
IDRC-TIFNET. New Delhi: pp
Raghava Swamy B.V., Himabindu K. and Lakshmi Sita G.,1992. In vitro
micropropagation of elite rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia). Plant
Cell Reports, (In Press).
Sederoff R., Stomp A.M., Chilton W.S. and Morre L.W., 1986. Gene
transfer into loblolly pine by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
Biotech, 4:647-649.
Winton L., 1978. Morphogenesis in clonal propagation of woody Plants.
In : T. A. Thorpe (editor) Frontiers of Plant Tissue Culture.
University of Calgary Press, Canada, pp 419-426
30
Mass Propagation of Eucalyptus Spp. (E. grandis
and E. globulus) Through Tissue Culture
P. Mohan Kumar, P. Rajasekaran and P. Haridas

R&D Department
Tata Tea Limited
Munnar
Kerala - 685 612
A complete lab-to-land procedure for the micropi-opagation of two species

of Eucalyptus viz: E. grandis and E. globulus has been established at an
industrial level for the first time in India. High rate of multiplication and
rooting, direct transfer of these plantlets to nursery with less than 5%
mortality are some of the salient features of the protocol. Over 1.45 lakh
plants were established in the field. Observations reveal better growth and
uniformity among the tissue cultured plants as compared to the seedlings
of the same age.
Key words: E.grandis, E. globulus, inicropropagation,

tissue culture
INTRODUCTION
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, had

announced a new National Forest Policy in 1988 (Anonymous, 1988).
Under the clause covering forestry research, there are certain broad
priority areas of R&D which need special attention. The first such priority
area identified their in for research is:
"Increasing the productivity of wood and other forest

produce per unit area per unit time by the application of modern
scientific and technological methods"
31
A fundamental technique for improving the yields of fuelwood from
man-made plantations is to improve the genetic stock. However,
conventional breeding methods when applied to tree species take several
years for the development of improved lines. The selection of elites from
existing stands followed by their in vitro culture appears to be an
eminently practical solution to the problem. Micropropagation is now
recognised as a viable alternative to conventional vegetative and seed
propagation methods. The advantages of this method are fast
multiplication under aseptic conditions in short time and space. Thus,
starting from limited planting stock, large number of plants identical to
the mother plant can be produced which will give enhanced biomass
production capacity.
Eucalyptus species have been found to be suitable as a fast growing

short duration fuel crop. Besides being the cheapest source of fuel for the
tea industry, Eucalyptus is one of the trees ofchoice for the pulp and paper
industry. In addition, the leaves of some species are the source of certain
essential oils.
Eucalyptus is generally raised through seed and hence the plants

exhibit wide variation owing to heterozygosity. Vegetative propagation
through cuttings is attempted on small scale largely because of the want
of reliable methods for rooting of cuttings from mature trees. In India, to
overcome these problems, a programme for the tissue culture of elite lines
of Eucalyptus globulus and E. grandis were established.
The in vitro production of plantlets in Indian laboratories has been

reported earlier in respect to E. grandis (Lakshmi Sita and Shobha Rani,
1985) andE. globulus (Mascarenhas et. al, 1982). The work reported here
was largely on the modification and scaling-up of the technology for
commercial production. Maximum attention was paid to achieve high
rates of multiplication and survival in the field.

A massive selection procedure was initiated to identify elite trees
from an existing seedling population of over 7 million trees. After
stringent selection procedures, 50 lines were selected with average girth
32
at breast height and height ranging from 170 cm to 300 cm and 30 to 40
m, respectively. Axillary buds from 6-8 month old juvenile branches
(coppiced shoots) of old trees felled for fuel were found to be the ideal
explant.
The protocols for large scale production ofE. grandis andE. globulus
plants through tissue culture have been standardised (Rajasekaran et al.,
1991). Each explant undergoes 4 main phases - initiation, multiplicaton,
rooting and establishment. The first phase of initiation takes 5-6 months
for establishment of cultures and then multiplication is carried out in a
medium containing higher cytokinin content. When subcultured to low
cytokinin medium, the multiplication rate increases and in 25-30 days
each culture can be multiplied 3 to 4 times to produce over 200 tiny shoots.
During the process of multiplication and subculture, the sizeable shoots
are transferred to a rooting medium. Rooting takes place within 10 to 15
days and plantlets can be transplanted to nursery in 15 to 20 days. A
common medium has been formulated for both the species for
multiplication and rooting.
The rooted plantlets are transferred to poly pots in the nursery

without special acclimatization in the laboratory. The transplanted
plantlets are kept under polythene tents and are ready for planting out in
the field in 4-5 months time.
Micropropagated plants ofE. globulus and E. grandis were initially

tested in pots and subsequently in the field. The tissue cultured plants
have been planted side by side with seedlings of the same age for
observation and comparison.
The complete lab-to-land procedure for micropropagation of two

species of eucalypts has been achieved at an industrial level for the first
time in India. Several features of the technique standardized are
noteworthy, particularly from the industrial view point. These are:
33
(1) The standardisation of a common medium for two species at
the multiplication and rooting stages saves considerable cost
and time.
(2) Good multiplication rates have been obtained in both species

- 1:5 in E. globulus and 1:6 in E. grandis, during the first 6 to
7 subcultures after which multiplication starts.
(3) Direct transfer of these plants to soil in poly pots also reduces
time and cost of production.
(4) Almost 95% of the shoots mE. grandis and 85% mE. globulus
develop roots.
(5) Over 95% E. grandis and 80% E. glob ulus plantlets survive in
the nursery.
Some of the significant results obtained are presented in table 1. The

tissue cultured plants have established well and growth is very
satisfactory. Data pertaining to height and girth measurements were
monitored and analysed.
Table 1: Summary of significant results obtained

E. globulus E. grandis
Initial Explant 40% 45%

Establishment
Multiplibation rate 1:5 1:6
Rooting in vitro 85% 95%
Survival in the nursery 80% 95%
Period for Establishment
in the nursery 5 months 4 months
34
The data pertaining to some of the areas shosw that tissue cultured
plants are uniform and show very little variation. The table 2 gives the
summary of these data:
Table 2: Comparative performance of seedlings and tissue

cultured plants
Year Elevation Rainfall Seedling plants Tissue Plants
Height Girth Height Girth

(ft) (inches) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)
1988 5174 94.00 10.00 29.40 10.00 31.30

1988 5636 123.94 5.71 17.31 6.48 20.94
1988 4540 62.69 10.46 38.53 12.12 37.29
1989 5048 239.14 4.59 13.20 6.30 17.68
1989 4944 164.82 3.36 13.08 3.13 13.24
1989 4291 127.97 4.80 23.00 4.95 23.00
1990 5014 95.00 1.48 4.60 1.67 5.96
1990 5636 129.80 1.32 3.44 1.54 4.88
The success in the establishment of in vitro propagated plantlets of

different species of Eucalyptus and perusal of tables 2 and 3 indicates the
potential of this method for improving the productivity of fuelwood
plantations. It is expected that yield can be increased considerably lithe
present seedling population is replaced by in vitro raised elite trees.
The primary result of this developmental work is amply

demonstrated by its commercial scale application. Already 1.45 lakhs of
the tissue culture raised plants have been planted and a further 50,000
are currently under production for planting out by June, 1992.
35
Table 3: Statistical analysis of girth measurements of some tissue
cultured and seedling plants
Year Elevation Tiss ue cultured plants Seedlings plants

N Mean SD CV N Mean SD CV
(ft) (Girth in cm) (Girth in cm)
1988 5636 37.0 20.7 4.3 20.5 32.0 17.3 4.3 24.6
1988 4540 31.0 37.3 8.1 21.7 41.0 23.6 13.8 58.2
1989 5048 25.0 17.7 3.0 17.0 25.0 13.2 2.4 27.8
1989 4944 25.0 13.2 2.4 17.8 25;0 13.1 3.9 29.4
1989 4291 30.0 23.4 5.3 12.5 30.0 25.6 3.1 12.2
CONCLUSION
The rapidly widening demand-supply gap for fuelwood and
industrial wood is very evident from the table 4:
Table 4: Demand and supply gap in fuel and industrial wood
Year Fuel wood Industrial wood for

pulp and paper
Demand Supply Gap Demand Supply Gap
(In million tonnes) (In million tonnes)
1980 184 17 167 25 9 16
1985 202 20 182 30 10 20
2000 225 47 — — — —
Source: Anonymous 1976, 1981
36
This wide gap between demand and recorded production is being
filled by over-exploitation of natural forests and illegal fellings. While the
government is rightly attempting to control deforestation by legislation,
it is worth recommending that simultaneous encouragement for the
creation of high-yielding energy plantations could be a constructive step
towards the solution of this problem. The plant biotechnological
techniques as demonstrated in this paper, have now attained a sufficient
degree of maturity and can make a genuine contribution towards
increasing the productivity of man-made forests in India.
REFERENCES
Anonymous, 1976. National Commission on Agriculture: Abridged

Report 1976. Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India,
New Delhi.
Anonymous, 1981. Forest Resources of Tropical Asia, 1981. Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome.
Anonymous, 1988. National Forest Policy. Ministry of Environment and
Forests, Government of India, New Delhi, December 7, 1988.
Lakshmi Sita G. and Shobha Rani B., 1985. In vitro propagation of
E. grandis by tissue culture. Plant Cell Reports 4: 63-65.
Mascarenhas A.F., Hazara S., Potdar U., Kulkarni D.K. and Gupta P.K.,
1982. Rapid clonal multiplication of mature forest trees
through tissue cultures. In: A. Fujiwara (editor), Plant Tissue
Culture. Japan Asso. Plant Tissue Cult., Tokyo, pp. 719-720.
Rajasekaran P., Mohan Kumar P., Haridas P. and Lai R.D., 1991. Large
scale propagation of Eucalyptus for energy plantations. XW
Annual Conference of the Plant Tissue Culture Association,
New Delhi.
37
Factors Affecting Somatic Embryogenesis in
Four-year-old Callus of a Fabaceous Tree -
Albizia richardiana King & Pram
Uttar Tomar* and Shrish C.

Tissue Culture Pilot Plant
New Delhi - 110 003
**
Department of Botany
University of Delhi - 110 007
Bright green and compact embryogenic calli were raised from hypocotyl
explants of Albizia richardiana on B5 (Gamborg et al., 1968) supplemented
with 10 p.M RAP 0.9% agar and 3% sucrose. The calli maintained
morphogenic potential for nearly four years on MS basal medium. Addition
of 0.lp.M ABA to MS medium, enhanced the frequency of embryogenic
callus cultures by three-folds. Simultaneously, it also inhibited abnormal
proliferations and production of secondary embryos as well as
differentiation of shoot buds. Increasing concentrations of ABA enhanced
the browning of calli and decreased the percentage of caulogenic cultures.
On the other hand, BAP increased the pereentage of embryogenic calli as
well as promoted abnormal formation and proliferation of secondary
embryos. However, in combination at equimolar concentrations of 1 p.M
ABA and BAP, somatic embryogenesis did not occur, indicating their
antagonistic effects.
An osmotic shock given to green calli with M mannitol or sucrose for 45

1
minutes, enhanced the percentage of embryogenic. cultures. Of the two

sugars, sucrose proved more effective. But a longer period of osmotic shock
(90 minutes) in I M sucrose inhibited both, callus growth as well as somatic
embryogenesis. The plausible enhancement of somatic embryogenesis by
mechanisms involving ABA, BAP and osmotic shocks, have been discussed.
Key words: Albizia richardiana, abscisic acid, osmotic

shock, somatic embryogenesis
38
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, considerable attention has been devoted to in vitro

propagation of plants via somatic for obvious reasons.
Inspite of immense economic importance, the induction of somatic
embryogenesis has been reported so far only in three fabaceous trees,
namely Acacia koa (Skolmen, 1986), Albizia lebbek (Gharyal and
Maheshwari, 1981) and Albizia richardiana (Tomar and Gupta, 1988a).
Of the three species, embryos have been observed only up to globular stage
in A. koa and the cotyledonary stage in A. lebbek. But complete plantlets
have developed only in A. richardiana from dicotyledonous somatic
embryos (Tomar and Gupta 1988a). Even in this species, the frequency of
well-organized somatic embryos was quite low. Therefore, it was
considered worthwhile to enhance the frequency and normalize the growth
of somatic embryos for any effective large scale utilization. With this aim,
the present investigations were carried out to assess the effect of different
combinations of BAP and ABA as well as the osmotic shock treatments
given to green callus cultures ofA. richardiana.
Seeds were procured from a seed store at Dehra Dun and germinated
aseptically on modified Knoop's medium (Tomar and Gupta, 1988b). The
hypocotyl explants excised from 12-day-old seedlings were reared on B5 +
10 pM BAP medium to raise callus cultures as described earlier (Tomar
and Gupta, 1988a). With a view to evaluate the effects of ABA and its
interaction with BAP, on the morphogenic potential of bright green and
compact calli, they were subcultured on MS medium (Murashige and
Skoog, 1962) augmented with 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 pM ABA individually
as well as in combination with 1 pM BAP. Similarly, to assess the effects
of osmotic shock, callus masses were first kept at 30°C in sterilized 1 M
sucrose or mannitol solution for 45 and 90 minutes, and then washed with
sterilized distilled water before transferring them to MS basal medium.
The MS medium was gelled with 0.9% agar (Difco-Bacto, U.S.A.) and
supplemented with 2% sucrose (B.D.H., U.K.). The pH was adjusted to
5.8 with iN NaOH and iN HC1 before autoclaving. Filter-sterilized ABA
was added in different concentrations to autoclaved MS medium or the
39
same containing 1 p.M BAP in a laminar flow cabinet. Green globular
callus pieces of 200±50 mg (fresh wt) were inoculated in each tube.
Callus cultures were grown under 16 hr photoperiod exposed to 650

p. w cm2 light produced by cool, white fluorescent tubes (Crompton, 40W).
Temperature and relative humidity of the culture room were maintained
at 25 ± 2°C and 55 ± 10%, respectively. Morphogenic responses were
recorded considering the following criteria: (i) per cent cultures producing
embryos, (ii) per cent cultures developing shoot buds, (iii) number of
embryos per responding culture, (iv) number of shoot buds per responding
culture, (v) callus growth reckoned as relative scores on the basis of visual
observations, i.e. nil (-), little (÷), moderate (+÷), good (+++), or profuse
(++++), and (vi) the degree of browning of calli represented in relative
scores as light brown (+), brown (+÷), dark brown (+++), or intense dark
brown (++++).
Only such shoots which had leaf primordia and leaves on a stem axis
(1 mm or longer) and embryos with distinct plumule-radicle axis (2-5 mm
in length) were scored. The data were recorded 40 days after subculture.
The significance of differences in morphogenic responses was checked by
employing Chi-square test at 5% level.
RESULTS
Regenerable long-term callus cultures have been established by

selective subculturing of A. richardiana embryogenic calli (Tomar and
Gupta, 1988a). They were maintained on MS basal medium by regularly
subculturing at an interval of 40 days. The long term green embryogenic
calli reared on MS medium, were transferred to the same medium but
supplemented with ABA either alone or along with 1 pM BAP: If added
individually, ABA (0.01, 0.1 and 1 pM) increased the percentage of
embryogenic cultures. At its optimal level (1 pM), 29.5 per cent of the
cultures differentiated embryos. On the other hand, caulogenesis was
adversely affected at 0.1 p.M and higher concentrations. On ABA
containing media, calli eventually turned brown and the degree of
browning was directly proportional to the concentration of ABA used
(Table 1).
40
The effect of ABA (0.01-1 tiM) was also evaluated in combination
with 1 BAP. Individually, the two hormones promoted embryogenesis
(except on 10 jiM ABA) but in combination, they interacted
antagonistically (Table 1). Besides the quantitative effect, both hormones
also influenced the quality of somatic embryos. ABA inhibited the
development and proliferation of secondary embryos, whereas BAP
promoted both of them.
Table 1: Effects of ABA and BAP individually and in combination

on embryo and shoot bud differentiation in green and
globular callus masses of Albizia after 40 days of
subculture. Basal medium: MS
ABAJ Embryo- Average Organog- Average Rela-

BAP genic number enic number tive
M) culture of embryos cultures of shoots deg-
(%) per embry- (%) per roe of
ogenic organo- row-
culture genic ning
culture
0/0 98b 2.8a 4.6a 1.Oa +
oil 167ab 37a 6.9a 2.Oa +
0.01/0 242ab 43a 2.2a 1.Oa ++

0.01/1 103ab 3.2a 7.6a 1.7a
0.1/0 216ab 4.Oa 0.Oa 0.0 +++
0.1/1 46b 1.8a 5.la 35a
hO 29.5a 2.Oa 0.Oa 0.0 +++
7.6k 2.8a 0.Oa 0.0 +4-
10/0 63b 2.Oa 0.Oa 0.0 ++++

10/1 167ab 2.8a 0.Oa 0.0 ++++
A minimum of 18 cultures were observed for each treatment.

Experiment has been repeated twice. Mean within a column followed by
41
the same superscript are not significantly different as determined by
Chi-squate test at 5% level.
The 45 minutes osmotic shock with 1 M mannitol and sucrose

enhanced the percentage of cultures producing embryos by two- and
three-folds, respectively. However, the average number of somatic
embryos did not change significantly (Table 2). But longer pretreatment
(90 minutes) in sucrose solution was inhibitory to both, callus growth as
well as somatic embryogenesis.
Individual normal somatic embryos on transfer to Knoop's

modified medium (Tomar and Gupta, 1988a) developed into complete
plantlets within one week. A minimum of 20 cultures were recorded for
each treatment and the experiment was repeated twice.
Table 2: Effect of I M mannitol and sucrose, as osmotic shock, on

morphogenic response of A. richardiana green caffi subeultured
on MS basal medium for 40 days
Duration of Calli Average no. of Relative

osmotic producing embryos per callus
shock embryos responding growth
(mean±S.E.) culture
(mean±S.E.)
Control 15.3 ± 2.0 2.4 ± 0.9 ++++

(0 mm.)
Mannitol 32.5 ± 4.7 2.8 ± 0.7 ++÷

(45 mm.)
Sucrose 49.5 ± 12.9 2.9 ± 0.5 ++++

(45 mm.)
Sucrose 9.1 ± 6.4 2.3 ± 1.7 ++

(90 mm.)
42
DISCUSSION
Abscisic acid was found to be quite critical for induction of somatic

embryogenesis (Quatrano, 1986). It enhances the response in monocots
(Renger, 1986; Brown et al., 1989), dicots (Kochba et a!., 1978) as well as
gymnosperms (von Arnold and Hakman, 1988). At non-inhibitory levels
(0.01-1 it increased the incidence of embryogenesis and also helped
maturation of Carum carvi embryos but it inhibited production of
secondary embryos as well as precocious germination of embryos
(Ammirato, 1973, 1974, 1977). Similarly, promotary effect of ABA on
somatic embryo formation has also been observed in callus cultures of tree
species, i.e. Citrus sinensis (Kochba et al., 1978), Picea abies (von Arnold
and Hakman, 1988) and Picea glauca Engelmannii complex (Roberts,
1991). The present investigations also indicate that 1 j.tM ABA increases
the percentage of embryogenic cultures ofA. richardiana and reduces the
abnormal growth of embryos.
The role of ABA in plant cell physiology are known to be varied and
several modes of action have already been suggested. It can alter the
permeability of membranes to ions (Raschke, 1979), water (Glinka and
Reinhold, 1971) and malate (van Kirk and Raschke, 1977), in various parts
of plants. Michler and Lineberger (1987) thought that red and blue light
spectra produced high levels of ABA in carrot cell suspensions, which in
turn, stimulate development of somatic embryos.
A significant observation presently made is that both, ABA and BAP

promote embryogenic response of calli if added to the MS medium
individually but if supplied simultaneously, they act antagonistically.
Several membrane-related physiological processes are already known to
be antagonistically effected by ABA and kinetin (van Steveninck and van
Steveninck, 1983). Kinetin negates the effect of ABA on stomata! closure
(Ta! and Imber, 1971), root exudation (Collins and Kerngan, 1974) and
and Cl uptake in storage (van Steveninck, 1974). It is opined
that in all these situations, the initial site of action in membranes are the
specific proteins. On the other hand, Stiliwell and Hester (1984) have
suggested that membrane permeability is increased by undissociated ABA
and kinetin individually interacting with phosphatidylethanolamine in
bilayers, but kinetin inhibits the ABA-PE permeability.
43
An osmotic shock, given as pretreatment by exposing the cells to 1
M sucrose or mannitol for 45 minutes enhanced the embryogemc response
of Daucus carota cell suspension in which sucrose proved more effective
(Wetherell, 1984). Similar treatment given to A. richardiana
hypocotyl-raised callus cultures, improved the embryogenic response
(present investigation). Sucrose pretreatment was more effective than
that of mannitol for this taxon as well. However, an extended
pretreatment (1 M sucrose for 90 minutes) inhibited the response.
Wetherell (1994) considered that the increase in embryogenic response
by osmotic shock was caused by physiological isolation ofembryogenic cells
from the neighbouring non-embryogenic cells. According to him,
plasmolysis resulted in disriiption of plasmodesmata and thus led to the
isolation of embryogenic cells. Recently, Roberts (1991) has also reported
the enhanced development of globular embryos in embryogenic cultures
ofPiceaglauca by low levels of mannitol (2-6%). Higher levels of mannitol
(13 and 20%) inhibited the precocious germination as well as promoted the
accumulation of storage proteins during cotyledon maturation.
Besides plasmolysis, water stress under the influence of high

osmoticum is known to increase the endogenous levels of ABA (Henson,
1984; Jones et al., 1987). Therefore, the other possibility is that the
embryogenic response by osmotic shock is caused through an increase in
the endogenous ABA level, which in turn, enhances the somatic
embryogenesis.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work was supported by the research project sanctioned to SCG,
by the United States Department of Agriculture under the Cooperative
Agriculture Research Grant No. FG-In-6019. The senior author (U.K.T.)
is grateful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi,
for the award of a Senior Research Fellowship and subsequently a
Research Associateship.
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development in Picea abies by abscisic acid (ABA). J. P1. Physiol.,
132: 164-169.
Wetherell D.F., 1984. Enhanced adventive embryogenesis resulting
from plasmolysis of cultured wild carrot cells. Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Cult., 3: 221-227.
47
B. COMMERCIAL ASPECTS OF
MICROPROPAGATION
Commercialization of Plant Tissue
Culture Research in India
LV. Ramanuja Rao

Khoday Biotek
7th Mile
Kanakapura Road
Bangalore - 560 062
India is one of the leading countries in tissue culture research with several
first to its credit. There is a large body of researchers in several institutions
in the country who have worked on a wide variety of plants. Inspite of this
impressive background, we have been unable to put this technology to
commercial use. This paper discusses some of the reasons for the lack of
progress in this regard. Although the issues discussed primarily relate to
tissue culture research in general, these apply even more to research on tree
species.
Key words: Commercial tissue culture, protocol development,

micropropagation.
INTRODUCTION
Commercialization of tissue culture or the mass propagation of

plants using in vitro techniques (micropropagation) started in the early
sixties and has since become a multi-million dollar industry in several
countries. While most of this activity is in the Western countries, several
commercial tissue culture laboratories have been established in Asia in
the recent past. According to 1989 figures, well over 700 miffion plants
are being produced all over the world through plant tissue culture
techniques.
51
Tissue culture research in India has a long history. There is
widespread interest in the country in research in this area and several
excellent laboratories have been established in the universities and other
national laboratories of the CSIR, ICAR, etc. India is reported to have one
of the largest corpus of plant tissue culture scientists in the world, actively
pursuing research in various areas. A wide variety of plants ranging from
pomegranate to papaya and oil palm to orchids are being worked on. There
have been several innovative works and many original findings which
rank amongst the best in the world. Techniques such as embryo rescue,
in vitro pollination and fertilization, and anther culture are amongst the
important achievements of Indian scientists. While the quality of research
in tissue culture has been of a high order, there has been very little impact
in terms of actual utilization or application (commercialization). Much
concern has been expressed at this wide and practically unbridged gap.
There is so little to show on the ground for the large investment made so
far on tissue culture research.
Nature of the Problem

Why is it that this excellent research, has had so little impact when
it comes to actual application. For long we have tended to side-line the
main causes of the problem which essentially is about why we in India
have not benefitted even from our own research while those abroad have
been able to do so. A common refrain is that research in universities and
other research institutions is of the pure kind and that plant tissue culture
as practised in a laboratory is not the same as that at the field level. While
the above is not entirely incorrect, it is certainly not the reason for lack of
commercialization. The problem lies more in difference in perceptions,
focus of research and overall attitudes. There is also a divergence in
objectives - whereas the commercial enterprises look at what is profitable
and sells, research institutions tend to concentrate on achieving a research
goal. There are other reasons as well which are discussed later.
Research Priorities
In India, th e government has been the prime mover of research and
its direction through control of funding. Much of the research has been
what the government and scientists consider is needed by the country and
the people and not what is priority for the industry. What is generally
52
missed in such research strategies is whether the research is marketable.
The crops that have generaliy been emphasized are amongst the most
difficult ones from the tissue culture point of view. This is the result of an
insular rather than a global approach. Plants such as the ornamentals
with a high sales realization in the market (both Indian and global) have
not been focussed on. These have received the lowest research priority as
a direct function of their relevance to social well-being. Whereas the above
socially-based priorities are not wrong or misplaced, what was overlooked
was that by the present time, a strong industrial base in tissue culture
could have been created. The industry would have also matured to the
level when it could have ventured into more difficult areas. The fact that
with a couple of exceptions, companies in India (for that matter anywhere
in the world) have primarily gone into the ornamental field and certainly
not into cereals, legumes, forest trees, etc., is testimony to this. Profit being
the prime motive of industry, social consideration can only be secondary
after survival in the market-place is ensured. What is actually needed is
an even spread of research effort between what is required by the people
and what makes money for the industry and ensures its viability.
There are three major players in the process of generation and

utilization of research in India. These are the universities and other
research institutions, the industry and other users, and the government.
A brief look at the depth and content of the relationships between these
groups is both revealing and educative. The relationship between
scientists and the government is a reasonably good, comfortable and a
mutualistic one with scientists helping define the goals, areas and
priorities for funding of the government and the latter funding the work
of the scientists (based on the priorities suggested by the latter).
Unfortunately the research tends to get short-circuited in this process and
only the scientific aspects emphasized as against commercial ones,
members of such committees/task forces set up by the government being
eminent scientists. Such a system has little provision for input from the
public and industry (users) which could facilitate the development of
proper focus leading to generating of usable technology.
Universities Vs. National Laboratories
Even among the government institutions, a difference needs to be
made between ten national laboratories and the universities. While the
53
former have a clear mandate to develop technologies, a lot of talent is
available in the universities. The volume of output from the universities
is much higher than that from the national laboratories. The cost of
university undertaken research is also often much lower. They also have
a more creative environment. The universities, on the other hand do not
have a clear mandate for undertaking long-term research. Besides, the
research being largely Ph.D. oriented, there is the resultant problem of
discontinuity of emphasis on a particular research topic. Clearly, these
relationships will need to be further clarified if meaningful outputs are to
be obtained.
Internal Brain Drain

Two kinds of people are needed for effective tissue culture and its
commercialization - researchers and managers. The new companies that
are coming up, view the best researchers as the best bet for the success of
the company. This has led to an exodus of some of our best scientists from
the universities and national laboratories to industry. This has created a
research vacuum, which in many instances will be filled up on
considerations other than merit. The latter can only result in a
deterioration of research capabilities in the field of tissue culture at a time
when the demands on the system are on an increase. At the same time,
scientists who have moved over and joined companies are unable to find
time for research and largely turn into administrators. It is imperative
that this new form of brain drain is contained as soon as possible. The
measures will need to go much beyond job security which is the only
attraction a government position at present holds for the scientist.
Incentives
The incentive for scientists is primarily through publishing of
research papers since these are an important measure of an individual's
ability and serve to get him national/international recognition. Papers
also enable him to obtain a better salary through promotion or selection
to a higher post. He therefore has little incentive in branching out to
applied research (especially that funded by industry) where little can be
published. If such work is to be undertaken by universities and other
research institutions, methods have to be devised by which the progress
of an individual can be measured.
54
The solution perhaps lies in keeping the best researchers in their
positions while providing more benefits to them in situ. This can be
through higher pay, additional research support, consultancy fees, etc.
Regulations through which the university takes away one-third of the
consultancy fees earned by individuals as overheads need to be modified
to 10 per cent in order to attract scientists towards industry-related work
and make them more out-going. Free enterprjse among scientists should
wherein teachers/scientists could exploit commercially their individual
capabilities. In other words, a new 'cadre' of 'academic enterpreneurs'
needs to be developed and encouraged. Scientists who develop commercial
techniques and technologies should be monetarily rewarded in proportion
to the pricing of the technology. They should also be eligible to receive a
similar proportion of the royalties.
Interaction with Industry

Research parks (on the lines of science parks) with facilities that
could be utilized by industry on payment should be established.
Collaborative tie-ups between industry and R&D institutions should be
entered into. Participation by industry in research projects should be
made mandatory. This will make the work more goal-oriented and will
benefit both parties. Industry in particular can benefit by establishing
strong contacts with R&D institutions since the former have extensive
infrastructure for research. R&D institutions should be converted into
extensions of industries and vice-versa - these should work hand in glove
with no artificial distinction between the two. Industry could adopt
science departments, fund positions (in situ scientists of industry) and
provide research support. As it sees more benefit flowing from such
research, funds from industry to research could only increase. Training
of students in commercial labs would become possible through such a
cooperation. R&D institutions could also greatly help industry in areas
such as germplasm exploration, since the latter have little capacity at
present in such areas. These could also help in training, producing
virus-free plants, contamination-free cultures, etc.
Industry can also be helped by government. Government could

provide soft loans for research and also contribute 50 per cent to the cost
of industry-sponsored research projects.
55
Protocol Development
need to be clearly defined in order that a researcher
can assess whether a research methodology is still a technique, at what
level it becomes a technology and with what additional clarifications does
it become a packaged, industrially-usable technology.
Factors relating to continued subculturability and predictability

need to be worked out and defined, since the cost of initiating cultures is
very high. The number of subcultures possible is very important. At the
earliest possible opportunity, one must scale up and graduate to a larger
container. Tubes should be used only at the initial stages. However,
scientists have little incentive for this. Even if they go up to a certain level,
they increasingly come up against hurdles for want of staff, facilities etc.
A separate rooting step in vitro adds the biggest cost to a plant. Protocols
should be designed such that rooting is either simultaneous or possible in
vivo.
Cost rationalization also needs to be carried out. Our attitude right

now is not a global, outgoing, competitive one. It is for this reason that we
are still unable to produce a competitive plant with locally-generated
technology. Even though our personnel costs are very low compared to
that abroad (a technician abroad gets on an average over Rs. 25,000 a
month which is equivalent to that of the CEOs of Indian tissue culture
companies), they are still price competitive since their operations are very
efficient. For example, upto 1500 inoculations are done per day per
technician. For protocols to be taken up by industry, clear implementable
schedules need to be designed along'with a simultaneous cost calculation.
The latter should have a complete accOunting of all inputs, etc. and should
take into account all hidden costs. Cost-benefit a4alysis, internal rate of
return and allied economic analyses should be made an integral and
mandatory part of research projects.
CONCLUSION
In 1989, Asia produced 75 million tissue culture plants. The present
world market is nearly 900 million plants. Laboratories in Europe, United
States of America, and other developed countries are slowly outpricing
themselves out of the market. We still have an excellent chance to make
56
our mark in commercial tissue culture in the world due to the remarkable
pool of intelligent, hard-working people we have coupled with low wages.
We need to do this before the industry in the West goes through another
technological revolution and overcomes the problem of scarcity of labour
and high wages. If we move fast enough, we are sure to catch up with the
biotech revolution.
Recommendations
The principal suggestions made in this paper are summarized below:
1. Research strategies must, wherever, possible have a

marketable end product.
2. There should be an even spread of research effort between
social and industrial priorities.
3. Research strategy formation and execution should take
industry into confidence.
4. Brain drain fromuUniversities/national laboratories to
industry needs to be contained.
5. Methods should be devised to evaluate the progress of
scientists engaged in applied research, since little can be
published.
6. The amount retained by the parent institution from
consultancies by scientists should be reduced to 10 per cent.
7. Enterpreneurship among scientists should be encouraged and
science parks set up around universities/national laboratories.
Academic 'enterpreneurship' while retaining their positions,
must be encouraged.
8. Scientists who develop commercial techniques/technologies
should be monetarily rewarded and receive royalties. Other
incentives for industry-related research should also be
devised.
9. Research parks (on the lines of science parks) with facilities
that could be utilized by industry should be established.
10. Research linkages need to be developed among the
universities, national laboratories and industry.
11. Collaborative tie ups with industry would be made mandatory
in research projects.
57
12. Industry should adopt science department/research
laboratories, fund positions and provide research support.
13. Government should provide soft loans for research and
contribute 50 per cent to the cost of industry-sponsored
projects.
14. Benchmarks need to be clearly defined by industry for the
researcher to assess the status of his protocol.
15. Clear, implementable protocols should be prepared by R&D
units together with cost-calculation.
16. Research projects should have cost-benefit analysis as an
integral part.
58
Tissue Culture Pilot Scale Facilities for the Mass
Cloning of Forest Tree Species
Vibha Dhawan
90,JorBagh
New Delhi - 110 003
Tissue culture of tree species in the recent past had remained more of an
academic exercise. The research was largely restricted to developing
protocols and not many plants were taken to the field. To bridge this gap
between laboratory and the field, Department of Biotechnology,
Government of India has sponsored two pilot scale facilities for the mass
cloning of forest tree species. The project was sanctioned in 1989 and within
two years, tissue culture propagated plantlets were sent to the forest lands
for evaluations. These facilities are more of the nature of a national facility,
as the protocol developed in other researeh organisation will be translated
into production protocols for large scale production. The plantlets are given
to State Forest Departments for field evaluation and are closely monitored
for clonal uniformity and increase in productivity over the conventionally
raised plantation. The field evaluation results are awaited.
Key words: Biomass, field evaluation, micropropagation,

pilot plant, tree tissue culture.
INTRODUCTION
Tissue culture for in vitro cloning is commercially exploited over the

past two decades for ornamental and some horticultural species but the
technique is still at a developing stage for the forest tree species.
59
The main reason which can be attributed to non-comniercialisation
of tissue culture technique for tree species are:
1. Overall research on forest tree species had lacked behind as

compared to agricultural and horticultural plants of high
economic value.
2. Tree species have very long life spans with the result breeding
is difficult
3. Most of the forests are on government land and thus are under
the direct control of government
4. The returns from the forestry plantations are available after
many years. Also, areas to be planted every year are massive
and so is the demand of propagules. Therefore, the initial
investment in terms of cost of propagules is a critical factor for
raising forest plants through tissue culture.
Tissue culture techniques are being increasingly popular in

industry and in the past five years, over a dozen companies became
operative, each with production targets varying from one to ten miffion
annually. These, companies have buy back arrangement with the
overseas companies. They get the mother cultures and the protocol for
multiplication from foreign company and the product (tissue culture
produced plantlets) are sold back to them. The patent laws overseas being
stringent restrict the sale of plants only to the company from where the
stock cultures were received. Thus, essentially in India, we are exploiting
the availability of cheap labour for multiplying the plants and both
cultivar development and the field transfers are done overseas. The
consumption of tissue culture propagated plants in our country is very low
and presently only tissue culture propagated plants of cardamom, banana
and some ornamentals are sold. The main problem perhaps is that we are
still not conscious of the quality and because tissue culture propagated
plants are more expensive, they are not acceptable to large masses.
The commercial companies, so far, set up for tissue culture in India

are not interested in propagating trees species, inspite of the fact that
biomass problem today in the developing countries is very grave. With
the mounting population pressure and their ever increasing energy needs
60
coupled with limited land resources, the only alternative is to increase
per unit biomass production.
Increasing Biomass Production

It is important to improve our planting stock. Conventionally, this
can be achieved by marking the candidate plus trees, cloning them by
conventional techniques of rooting of cuttings or subjecting the seed
raised progeny to progeny testing to select the superior genotypes. The
progeny of these elite trees is then used for raising seed orchards. Tissue
culture will be of immense practical value as the species which can not be
conventionally propagated through rooting of cuttings can be multiplied
in vitro with the added advantage of fast multiplication under disease free
conditions. The main probleifis associated with conventional techniques
of vegetative propagation are:
1. Cuttings from all tree species do not root

2. Many tree species loose their ability to form root with age
3. The cuttings taken from the terminal shoot grow straight
while the cuttings taken from the side branches either give rise
to crooked stems. The plantlets derived from them die at a
young age or remember their physiology.
4. The functional cutting is of the size of 20-30 cms and could be
rooted only in a particular season
Because of these inherent difficulties associated with cloning by

conventional vegetative techniques there are very few examples of tree
improvement programmes where cuttings were taken as the starting
material.
Tissue Culture Pilot Scale Facilities for Mass Cloning of Tree

Species
India has been a pioneering country in the field of tree tissue
culture. The first report of hardwood species being propagated from
mature tissue was from National Chemical Laboratory, Pune on Tectona
grandis (Gupta et. aL, 1980) and the list is expanding fast (Mascarenhas
et al., 1989; Dhawan, 1983, 1992).
61
While many protocols were developed by Indian scientists, the
research results were not supplemented with field evaluation studies.
This was mainly because of the lack of facilities with research institutions
/universities.
The Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, has

sponsored two Pilot Scale facilities for the mass cloning of forest tree
species in 1989. These facilities are set up by National Chemical
Laboratory, Pune and Tata Energy Research Institute, New Delhi. These
facilities are fully operational and each has the capacity to produce over
a million plants of tree species annually.
The main objectives of the project are:
1. To initiate Pilot Plant units for transfer of tissue culture

technology from laboratory level to the field
2. To create institutional facilities for research and development
3. To serve as a training center for production.
The two pilot plants were designed independently. Most of the

equipment is indigenous. The first batch of plants from TERI's pilot plant
is due in July, 1992. Over 40,000 plants will be produced by October, 1992
and another 1,00,000 by March, 1993. Over 1,50,000 plants were
produced and lifted by state forest departments of Bihar, Haryana,
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. From the research
facilities at NCL, over 15,000 plants were already produced and field
evaluation trials have been initiated. The plants from TERI's TCPP will
be planted in the neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and
Rajasthan. The plants would be evaluated in collaboration with the
concerned forest departments. At TERI, work is being undertaken on
the following species:
Acacia nilotica, exotic acacias(A. bivenosa, A. moconochieana, A.

scierosperma and A. victoriae), Anoegeissus pendula, bamboos (Bambusa
tulda, B. vulgaris, Dendrocalamus longispathus, and D. strictus),
Eucalyptus tereticornis, Leucaena hybrids and Poplars (Populus ciliata
and P. deltoides).
62
At NC L's pilot plant, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Dendrocalamus
strictus and Tectona grandis are being multiplied.
Problems Associated with Commercial Exploitation of Tree

Tissue Culture
Tissue culture of hardwood species is still in the developing stage.
The problems associated with tissue culture of mature trees were recently
reviewed by Bonga (1987) and Ahuja (1993). The techniques are well
developed and commercially exploited for most ornamentals and many
fruit crops (Boxus and Druart, 1985), but it is still to be optimised for forest
tree species. Even in the developing countries where tissue culture is
routinely used for the multiplication of ornamental and horticultural
species, the tissue culture of trees is largely restricted to the laboratory.
Nowhere in the world large plantations of hardwoods has been raised by
tissue culture. This is largely because the adult tissue of most
economically important hardwood species are still proving to be
recalcitrant to tissue culture techniques.
A survey of the existing literature (Dhawan, 1992) shows that

protocols are largely developed from the seedling explants. Even for the
species where protocols are developed starting from the adult tissues,
many refinements are required before it can be applied for mass
multiplication (Populus deltoides clone L-34, D-121, Prosopis juliflora
and Acacia nilotica; unpublished work of TERI's laboratory). However,
recently Populus deltoides was successfully multiplied by in vitro
techniques by DrHC Chaturvedi of NBRI, Lucknow. When the aim is to
produce few plants, it is not difficult to start with large number of
explants. Such protocols, however, can not be applied for large-scale
propagation. Limited multiplication could be achieved by rooting the in
vitro formed shoots and putting the mother explant again on the fresh
medium for bud break. The role of mother explant in bud break and shoot
growth is still to be It could take two paths: either the mother
explant is contributing a growth factor which stimulates the shoot growth
or adult is sieving out certain nutrients of the medium which are toxic to
the plant system under study. Interestingly, the seedling explants on a
similar media multiply with no problem.
.3
Multiplication from the juvenile tissue is acceptable for those
species in which the aim is to increase the quality of the planting material
such as Anogeissus and bamboos. Anogeissus is a poor seed setter and
further the seed viability is as low as 1-2%. This is a very promising species
for the greening of Aravalli hills. With increased demands from paper
industry, bamboos are cut indiscriminately. Simultaneously, there is an
awareness about planting bamboos, especially those species which are
required by the paper industry. This, however, is proving to be difficult
because of inadequate planting material. Further for most bamboo species
there is no selection work done either. Therefore, it is immaterial whether
the explants are taken from the seedling or adult. Another advantage of
propagating bamboos through vegetative propagation is that the initial
growth is much faster. The first harvest can be taken in 2-3 years from
vegetatively propagated bamboos in contrast to 5-6 years for seedling
raised bamboos (A.N. Chaturvedi, pers. communication). However, the
vegetative cuttings sometimes retain their physiological age and plants
produced through cuttings flower with the mother clump. Thus, cuttings
for the vegetative propagation/tissue culture propagation should be
always taken from the clumps of the known age.
Another major problem especially in the developing countries, is

that most forest land is under the Government Forest Departments.
These departments have meager funds with large targets to meet; hence
they are more concerned about the quantity of the planting material and
not the quality.
For rooting, after repeated subculturing, two diverse responses are

observed. In some species, in which the cultures are initiated from the
adult tissues, repeated subculturing introduces juvenility. In
20-year-old material of Eucalyptus citriodora, the shoots could be rooted
only after the third cycle of shoot multiplication. The rooting percentage
increased from 35-40% in the fourth subculture to 45-50% in the 5th and
subsequent passages (Gupta et. al., 1981). In some cultivars of apple also,
rooting was improved by repeated subculturing (Zimmerman and
Broome, 1981). On the other hand in some species, rooting frequency
declined with subculturing, perhaps due to the increased level of
endogenous cytokinins.
64
Tree breeding is very different from crop breeding. The flowers are
formed at a certain height and thus are more difficult to manoeuver.
Unlike crop plants, trials with tree hybrids take many years for
evaluation. Mass multiplication of the desirable hybrids again is a
difficult exercise. One viable alternative for immediate biomass increase
is to mass multiply the plus trees existing in nature, test them in different
agroclimatic areas and make further selections. The selected clones can
be further multiplied to bulk up the initial stock for conventional
propagation. Species in which the adult tissue proves recalcitrant, the
cultures could be initiated from a large number of seeds and a few plants
of each genotype tested in the field. The cultures of all the genotypes are
maintained in the tissue culture laboratory and the promising ones later
mass multiplied. Adopting this approach, at TERI we have developed
tissue culture methods for Leucaena hybrids combining faster growth of
L. leucocephala with other frostJpsyllid resistant leucaena species. About
1000 copies of the following hybrids are put in the field for evaluation at
the M.P. and Haryana forest land:
Leucaena retusa x L. shannoni
L. leucocephala x L. diuersifolia
L. divers ifolia x L. leucocephala
L. divers ifolia x (L. pallida x L. leucocephala)
L. leucocephala x L. esculenta
L. pulverulenta x L. leucocephala
L. leucocephala x L. pallida
Fortunately many tree species can be coppiced and the coppiced

shoots behave more like the juvenile tissue. For Eucalyptus tereticornis,
we have seen that explants from the terminal branches show no bud
break while those from the coppiced shoots showed good bud break (Sood,
unpublished work). It is observed, especially in those species wherein
multiplication involves a callusing phase, that with repeated
subculturing loss of morphogenetic potential occurs. After a few
subcultures shoot differentiation declines. Fortunately, this is less
pronounced in the method involving axillary branching. As discussed
earlier, for hardwood species axillary branching is the most desirable
65
method when the aim is cloning. It is not desirable however, to go beyond
10 subculture passages so as to avoid risk of mass multiplication of any
abnormal shoot which might originate during shoot multiplication.
Field Evaluation of Tissue Culture Propagated Plants
As discussed earlier, tissue-culture techniques are good for two

diverse applications:
(1) for increasing the quantity of the planting material and

(2) to improve the quality of the planting material.
When the aim is to produce a large number of plants of any one

species, the only factor for evaluation is to check whether these plants
survive and grow similar to the seeding-raised plants under different
agroclimatic regions. However, when the aim is to produce quality plants,
the field evaluation becomes a crucial factor. The plants need to be
evaluated for:
1 Clonal uniformity
2 Biomass yields from the tissue culture raised plantation vs.
plantation raised from conventional methods (cuttings/seeds).
The initial data is for survival and depending on the species other
parameters such as height, girth at breast height, number of branches
etc. can be monitored. At the monitoring stage the silvicultural practices
followed become more relevant. Even the fully hardened tissue-culture
propagated plants require more care than plant raised from seeds and
somewhat more than plants raised from cuttings.
For the evaluation of plants raised at TCPP, the field design and the
monitoring details required by us are given along with the plants. It is
not possible to monitor the entire production but we are planning to have
trials in ten hectares area for each species during each season for collecting
the details.
66
REFERENCES
Bonga J.M., 1987. Clonal propagation of mature trees: Problems and

possible solutions. In: J.M. Bonga and D.J. Durzan (editors), Cell
and Tissue Culture in Forestry. Vol. 1: General Principles and
Biotechnology. Martinus Nijhoff, Dordrecht, pp. 249-271.
Boxus P. and Druart P., 1985. Mass propagation of fruit trees. In: A.
Schaefer-Menhur, (editor). In vitro Techniques:Propagation and
Long Term Storage. Martinus NijhofffDr. W. Junk, Dordrecht,
pp. 29-34.
Dhawan V., 1992. Tissue culture of hardwood species. In: J. Prakash
and R.L.M. Pierik, Plant Biotechnology: Commercial Prospects
and Problems. Oxford and IBH Publishers, Delhi. (In Press)
Gupta P.K., Nadgir A.L., Mascarenhas A.F. and Jagannathan V., 1980.
Tissue culture of forest trees: Clonal multiplication of Tectona
grandis L. (teak) by tissue culture. Plant Sci. Lett., 17:259-268.
Gupta P.K., Mascarenhas A.F. and Jagannathan V., 1981. Tissue
Culture of forest trees-Clonal propagation of mature trees of
Eucalyptus citriodora Hook, by tissue culture. Plant Sci. Lett.,
20:195-201.
Zimmerman R.H. and Broome O.C., 1981. Phioroglucinol and in vitro
rooting of apple cultivar cuttings. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci., 106:
648-652.
67
C. CONVENTIONALTECHNIQUES
OF IMPROVING FOREST YIELDS
A Brief Account of Forest Tree Improvement in
Uttar Pradesh, India
Padmini Shivkumar
Forest Geneticist
Forest Research Lab.
Kanpur - 208 024
The importance of tree improvement in silvicultural practices is well

recognized. The improvement programmes undertaken in Forest Research
Laboratory, Kanpur in respect of three widely cultivated tree species inUttar
Pradesh viz., Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia sissoo and Prosopis are
summarised in this paper which include plus tree selection and progeny
testing.
Key words Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia sissoo, plus trees,

progeny testing, Prosopisjuliflora, provenance
trial.
INTRODUCTION
Tree improvement may be applied under different circumstances

and at varying degrees of intensity, ranging from the conservation of gene
resources, species and provenance trials to seed orchard establishment,
controlled crossings and progeny trials.
Provenance trials are considered to be an essential part of the

genetic improvement work. A range wide provenance test usually
71
indicates the total range of genetic variation within a species and thus it
gives a clue as to the amount of improvement which may be expected from
more intensive breeding work.
For successful promotion of large scale afforestation projects, there

is need for carefully planned and well directed research. Species and
provenance trials provide some of the basic information on which policies
concerning afforestation are made and there are obvious advantages if
such trials can be initiated well in advance. This is true for tissue culture
work as well. Tree improvement, in the sense of species - provenance
selection and breeding can contribute directly to increased net economic
yield through increasing, average growth rates.
Tree Improvement Programme at Forest Research Laboratory

The main objectives of tree improvement are to select superior trees
(plus trees) which would have qualities of good form, rapid growth rate,
straight stems, desired crown to trunk ratio, good seed producing and
germinating ability and resistance to certain pests and diseases.
Three species of economic and social importance have been taken

under this programme, viz. Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia sissoo and Prosopis
juliflora.
Species-wise work undertaken are as under:-
(i) Acacia nilotica (Kikar)

In recent years, much attention has been given toAcacia nilotica as
one of the important species for afforestation of arid and semi-arid areas
in India. It grows quickly and is a nitrogen fixing species, thus improves
the soil fertility.
In a nine provenance, FAO, IBPGR provenance trial at Kanpur,

significant differences were observed among the provenances. Data
recorded for a period of seven years showed that the provenance. (P6) -
Banaskantha, Gujarat, (P') - Aloka - Maharashtra and (P8) - Adilabad,
Andhra Pradesh proved best. These three provenances showed consistent
72
good performance. throughout the seven year period and hence could be
marked as best provenances for the region.
Plus trees of A. nilotica have been selected from more than 20

provenances and progeny trials laid out in different locations.
(ii) Dalbergia sissoo (Sbishaxn)

Plus trees of shisham have been selected from various regions in the
U.P. where both natural and plantation forests exist. They were selected
with respect to the straightness of the stem, height and diameter growth.
Data on the selected plus trees are given in table-i.
Progeny testing of the selected trees is essential to assess its

genotypic worth and breeding value. By collecting open pollinated seeds
from individual trees, raising seedling from them, trials can be
established to compare the performance of the progeny from the different
trees in respect of the characters we are interested in, such as height,
growth, diameter, vigor, wood properties etc.
In a one parent progeny test conducted at Kanpur of shisham plants,

the seeds of which were brought from straight stemmed plus trees of
Mauranipur Range, Jhansi (U.P.). There was high co-relation between
the parent - progeny for stem form. This was observed even in one year
old trees. The unselected control plants used for this trial, showed both
forking and crooked stem form. Genetics plays a major role in the
development of stem form. Stem straightness is related to wood quality.
Genetical data on this, is therefore of direct use to the silviculturist.
(ffl) Prosopiajuliflora (Jand)

Plus trees ofProsopisjuliflora have been selected from Allen Forest.
Bovine block and Fisher forest, Etawah; Mathura; Kukrail, Kotwa etc.
Progeny/provenance trials have been undertaken in degraded soil, so that
selection is undertaken in such areas, since finally selected trees have to
be planted in usar/degraded soils.
73
Table 1: Plus trees of Dalbergia 8i8800
Sl.No. Place Height Clear bole- Girth

(m) height (m) (m)
1. Mauranipur 39.0 24.0 2.10
Range,Jhansi
(UP)
2. " 37.0 19.0 1.80
3 " 360 250 180
4. " 33.0 18.0 1.60
5. Bindki Range,
Fatehpur (UP) 33.0 16.0 1.30
6. " 38.0 10.0 1.40
7. 35.0 12.0 1.40

8. " 35.0 11.5 1.10
9. Fisher Forest
Etawah (UP) 19.0 6.65 1.40
10. " 18.6 8.0 1.90
11. " 13.4 3.3 1.22
12 ." 13.0 1.75 1.27
13. Allen Forest
Kanpur (UP) 34.5 17.5 1.69
14. " 25.5 13.5 1.10
15. " 25.0 8.5 1.42
16. 22.5 10.5 1.49
17. Brindavan Block
Mathura (UP) 9.0 8.0 1.42
18 " 189 75 146
19. • 17.9 6.0 1.29
20. " 19.5 9.0 1.55
74
Tree improvement has really just started to make its
contribution to forest production. It is without any question one of the
best tools of silviculture.
75
Comparison of Tissue Culture Plants Against
Seedling in Tectona grandis
R.M. DAYAL*, V.K. KOUL AND ANMOL

101, Jor Bagh, New Delhi - 110 003
The seedlings and tissue culture raised plants of Tectona grandis were
planted simultaneously at similar sites in Chandrapur (Maharashtra) in
1983. The comparative study of their volume (in 9th years), on the basis of
their 't values' indicated that tissue culture raised plants from plus D-ees do
not show any superiority over planted seedlings. Plants raised by this
technique do not show uniformity in their growth too. Other limitations of
Hssue culture technique are also discussed in this study.
Key words : Cloning, Tectona grandis, tissue culture,

vegetative propagation, plus trees.
INTRODUCTION
Propagation of plants has been fundamental occupation of mankind
since the dawn of civilization. For raising plantations of forest tree
species, there was little emphasis placed on genetics. In case of teak which
is an important timber species, however, importance of seed origin was
realised early in the second quarter of this century and provenance trials
of teak were laid at six different locations in India during 1928 to 1930.
* Of Indian Forest Service, presently on deputation to TERI.

** Of Indian Forest Service, presently Siviculturist & Director, State Forest Research
Institute, Chandrapur, Máharashtra.
76
The importance of selecting seeds from superior trees was soon realised.
On the other hand, vegetative propagation in some other species has a
long history. Poplars and willows, e.g. are traditionally raised by rooting
of cuttings.
Micropropagation has been extensively used for mass propagation

of orchids and many ornamentals. The idea was that through tissue
culture technique selection of desirable types is possible in moderate sized
laboratory, equipped with greenhouse with low financial outlay (Deepesh
et.al., 1985). In case of forest trees successful micropropagation
techniques are available for Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. citriodora,
Leucaena leucocephala, Morus alba, Phoenix dactylifera, Prosopis
cineraria, Santalum album and Tectona grandis (Khoshoo, 1989).
However, nowhere large scale tissue culture raised plants of forest
species have gone into field plantings. There are not many reports of
comparisons of tissue culture plants against seedlings. Mascarenhas
(1989) reported that the biomass increase in tissue culture raised plants
of E. torelljana was 700% and 100% above the control at the end of 12 and
34 months, respectively. The most important factor which is not
considered is that trees cannot be judged in the same way as annual
plants during the first season. In case of trees, juvenile phase of growth
does not show any correlation with the adult phase. A too early biomass
assessment is probably the most serious error in such reports. It has been
observed in Populus deltoides that initially some clones grow very fast
but later on they do not perform well. Tectona grandis (teak) has a rotation
period of 60 to 80 years in different areas. A clear comparison between
tissue culture raised plants and seedlings will be possible only after 30 to
40 years. In the present exercise, a study has been made to assess the
performance of tissue culture techniques by studying 't' value of their
volume between tissue culture raised plants and seedlings of this species.
From the selected plus trees of teak, the bud wood material was col-
lected and tissue culture plants were raised at National Chemical
77
Table 1:Height and girth data of plants raised through tissue
culture techniques and through seedlings
(Date of measurement - 22.2.92)
Si. Tree Tissue Cu! ture Plants Seedlings

No. No. Height Girth Height Girth
(m) (in) (m) (m)
1. 1. 9.35 33 5.30 17
2. 2. 5.65 17 7.15 16
3. 3. 5.55 14 6.15 23
4. 4. CUT CUT 5.40 18
5. 5. 9.50 36 7.20 21
6. 6. 9.95 31 9.20 31
7. 7. 7.60 20 6.85 17
8. 8. 9.55 30 8.90 26
9. 9. 9.50 30 9.10 20
10. 10. 4.90 10 9.15 31
11. 11. 8.95 27 7.50 23
12. 12. 9.10 26 5.30 16
13. 13. 9.90 34 8.90 27
14. 14. 9.40 39 4.40 18
15. 15. 10.40 30 9.50 32
16. 16. 6.55 17 8.00 21
17. 17. 7.40 20 8.25 29
18. 18 10.40 25 4.25 14
19. 19. 6.75 14 10.05 31
20. 20. 8.85 21 9.05 35
21. 21. 6.90 26 4.15 21
22. 22 8.90 34 8.20 25
78
Laboratory (NCL) Pune. About 22 tissue culture plants were planted
during the rains of 1983 in Comptt. No. 480 (Section I) of West Chanda
Forest Project Division of Forest Development Corporation of
Maharashtra. Simultaneously, same number of seedlings raised by seeds,
Table 2: Volume calculations of the raised plants
Si. No. Tissue Culture Plants Seedlings

(m3) (m3)
1. 1.02 0.15
2. 0.16 0.18
3. 0.11 0.32
4. 1.23 0.17
5. 0.96 0.32
6. 0.30 0.88
7. 0.86 0.20
8. 0.85 0.60
9. 0.05 0.36
10. 0.65 0.88
11. 0.61 0.40
12. 1.14 0.14
13. 1.43 0.65
14. 0.94 0.14
15. 0.19 0.97
16. 0.30 0.35
17. 0.65 0.69
18. 0.13 0.08
19. 0.39 0.97
20. 0,47 1.11
21. 1.14 0.18
79
were also planted in the same area. Their growth data were recorded and
analyzed (Table 1 and 2). The GBH, a good indicator of volume was used
for comparison purposes. The results so obtained, were further analyzed
for their 't' value.
The analysis of mean volume of tissue culture raised plants and

seedlings and their subsequent determination of 't value' indicated that
tissue culture raised plants were statistically non significant at 5% level.
This was arrived at by the following calculations.
Tissu e Culture Plants Seedlings

X (Mean) 0.65 0.47
Standard Deviation (S.D.) 0.42 0.32
Standard Error (S.E.) 0.09 0.07
Standard Error % 13.85 14.89
Xl-X2
t value for volume =
S.E.21 + S.E. 22
0.65 - 0.47
(0.09)2 + (0.07)2
= 1.58
Table value oft 0.05 at 20 d.f. = 2.086
X1 =Mean volume of tissue culture raised poles.

X2 =Mean volume of seedling raised poles.
S.E.1=Standard error for volume of tissue culture raised poles.
S.E.2=Standard error for volume of seedling raised poles.
80
Thus, there was no significant difference at 95% probability in the
mean volumes of teak poles raised through seed and tissue culture at 9
years of age. As is evident from table 2, there was no uniformity in the
growth in the tissue culture raised plants. The seeds collected from
ordinary trees for raising seedling plants also did not exhibit any inferior
growth over tissue culture raised plants.
In our country, about 1295.80 lakh ha area is under wastelands, so

primarily any afforestation work undertaken aims to ameliorate these
sites. The authors believe that tissue culture raised plants growing in
sterile controlled environment are not likely to withstand adverse
conditions of humidity, salinity, high temperature, high
evapo.transpiration and other climatic vagaries of field. This results in
high mortality of young seedlings. Further in tissue culture raised plants
the genetic base is narrowed as the explants are collected from a small
number of parent trees. This may be desirable in the ornamentals because
- market demand is for certain specific varieties with uniform color, form,
leaves, etc. But in forestry, this may prove to be very risky. A classic
example of this is poplar clone 1-214, from Italy, which was chosen for its
excellent growth traits and freedom from pests and was once widely
planted. Its large scale plantations as monoculture have generated new
disease problems. Similarly,.elm clone "belgica" , planted on large scale
in Netherlands, to be susceptible to Dutch elm disease (Wright
1976). When the planted trees have similar genotype, loss can occur
resulting in many years of cumulative productivity loss, if the trees are
not old enough to be salvaged. When catastrophe occurs in agriculture
and crop is damaged or lost, adjustments can be made and farmer can start
in the next season but in forestry the plants must survive for many years
against the all natural disturbances that occur periodically. If genetic
base in forestry is narrowed, the possibility for losses become greater.
In most of the cases, materials collected presently are only from

phenotypically superior trees. Micropropagation is probably meaningful
only where selected plus trees/plants with proven genetic superiority are
used as source of the explant. Most scientists believe that propagules
obtained from trees which are good in appearance will produce the same
genotype. The selection of plus trees, however, is possible only after
progeny testing. Further the tissue culture raised plants are more
81
expensive than nursery raised seedlings. In tissue culture technique, the
large initial investment for laboratory, equipments, chemicals, etc. is at
times ignored. The extra recurring cost makes it more expensive because
of extra skill which results in the additional costs etc. According to rough
estimates the cost of producing plants by tissue culture exceeds that of
nursery grown seedlings by about 10 to 30 times, (Chaturvedi, 1987).
CONCLUSION
At the present status of research, tissue culture plantlets,
especially of Tectona grandis cannot be considered reliable planting
material for afforestation programme.
Tissue culture as such is not a bad technology but for forestry species,
it is still in its infancy and more research is needed to develop with respect
to cost-effective and viable protocols, especially their hardening and field
planting. Collection of material from superior trees, progeny testing at
different sites and maintaining the broad based genetic diversity within
the species is very essential. At present, in comparison to tissue culture,
alternative methods of clonal planting such as cuttings, layering, budding,
grafting, etc. are available and need to be refined further for raising large
plantations.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors express their sincere gratitude to Shri A.N. Chaturvedi, IFS
(Retd.), Senior Fellow, Tata Energy Research Institute, for his guidance,
suggestions and critically going through this manuscript.
REFERENCES
Chaturvedi A.N., 1987. .Tissue culture of forest trees. J. Trop. Forestry,

3:239-241.
Deepesh N.D., 1985. Role of tissue culture in woody biomass productivity.
Prospects, problems and strategies. Proc. Bio-Energy Society
Second Convention and Symposium, 13-15 October, 1985.
Hyderabad, pp. 94.
82
Khoshoo T.N., 1989. Forestry in India. Problems and prospects. In: V.
Dhawan (editor). Application of Biotechnology in Forestry and
Horticulture.. Plenum Press, New York.
Mascarenhas A.F., 1989. Biotechnological applications of plant tissue
culture to forestry in India. In: V. Dhawan (editor). Application
ofBiotechnology in Forestry and Horticulture Plenum Press, New
York.
Wright J.W., 1976. Introduction to Forest Genetics. Academic Press,
New York.
83
Biomass Enhancement of Tree Legumes by
Rhizobium and VescicuJar Arbuscular Mycorrhizae
Sunil Khanna, Banwari La! and Alok Adholeya

Microbiology and Molecular Genetic Unit
158 Jor Bagh, New Delhi 110003 India
Field trials were conducted to evaluate the beneficial role of Rhizobiwn and
Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM) in biomass production of tree
legumes (Leucaena leucocephala, Prosopisjuliflora and Acacia nilorica).
Both indigenous and exotic strains of Rhizobium and VAM isolates were
used as inoculum. Nitrogenase activity in root nodules of Leucaena
leucocephala andAcacia nilotica showed the seasonal effect but in Prosopis
juliflora the nitrogenase activity increased in 4 month old plants, remained
constant at 8 month but decreased at 12 month. The introduced Rhizobium
isolates survived with high frequencies in field. In nursery more than 85%
nodule of A. nilotica were formed by inoculated isolates while after 12
months of transplantation more than 65% renodulation by introduced strains
was observed.
In all three tree species the total dry matter yield was higher in inoculated
plants than uninoculated plants. In P. juliflora the Rhizobium isolate
TAL600 showed 88% higher biomass yield over the control, while in A.
nilotica, Rhizobium isolate USDA 3325 showed two fold increase in total
dry matter yield. In all three tree species there was no correlation between
root colonization by VAM and biomass enhancement.
Key words: Acacia nilotica; biomass; Leucaena leucocephala;

nodulation; Prosopisjuliflora; Rhizobium; YAM.
84
INTRODUCTION
The depletion of forest cover leading to scarcity of fuel wood, fodder

and timber coupled with increasing areas being converted into wasteland
is a major concern of developing countries. Leguminous trees and shrubs
have been suggested as a renewable source of fuel and wood products and
are known to have symbiotic association with Rhizobium and vesicular
arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi (NAS, 1977 ; 1979). Acacia species
usually found in arid and semi-arid region are renowned for their fast
growth rate even on marginal lands and are popular plants for use in land
rehabilitation.
SomeAcacia species (Dreyfus and Dommergues, 1981a;b and Habish

and Khairi, 1970) and Prosopis species (Basak and Goyal, 1975) require
specific rhizobia which may not occur at all sites. Maximum growth of
Acacia sp. in degraded soil can be achieved by inoculation with compatible
and effective strains of rhizobia and VAM. However, information on the
beneficial effect of such inoculation on plant growth in tree species is
meagre. Hogberg and Kvarnstrom (1982) reported fixation of 110 kg N
ha'1 yeaf1 equivalent by effective strain of Rhizobium with Leucaena
leucocephala. Enhanced growth due to Rhizobium and mycorrhizal
association have been reported by Roskoski et al. (1986) in L.
seedlings. Similarly, with Acacia sp. beneficial effect of Rhizobium
inoculation have also been reported by Cornet and Diem (1982) and
Thapar et al. (1990). All these studies were done only for 30 to 90 days.
Hence the information available pertains to seedlings only.
Unfortunately, the renodulation potential of the introduced isolates and
the consequent improvement in soil due to inoculation have not been
studied adequately.
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the ability of

different isolates of Rhizobium and VAM in biomass production of Acacia
nilotica, Leucaena leucocephala and Prosopisjuliflora. The survivability
and competitive ability of Rhizobium isolates of Acacia was also studied
over a period of 12 months.
85
Source of Rhizobium
Strains ofRhizobium used in this study were USDA 3325, AB 3, AD
4, A 1, A 3, NGR 8, P 5 and Tal 600, Strain USDA 3325 for Acacia was
obtained from USDA culture collection while NGR 8 for Leucaena and Tal
600 for Prosopis were from NIFTAL Hawaii. Strains AB 3 and Al) 4 were
isolated from the root nodules of A. nhlotica growing at Barkha and
Dhanwas in North India. A 1 and A 3 were isolated from root nodules of
L. leucocephala and P 5 was isolated from P. juliflora growing at Gwal
Pahari (TERI's Research Station). VAM isolates were isolated from the soil
of the experimental site. Strain USDA 3325 was tetracycline resistant (25
jig m11) while isolates AB 3 and AD 4 were nalidixic acid (300 jig mi1) and
penicillin (400 jig m11) resistant respectively. The antibiotic resistance
were stable in these isolates over one year during storage. Antibodies were
developed against these strains in white rabbits. Cross reactivity among
these strains were observed by microimmunodiffusion technique (Ball
1990).
Field Plots
One year field trial of A. nilotica, and two years field trials of L..
leucocephala and P. juliflora were conducted at Gwal Pahari (TERI's
Research Station). The experimental design was a complete randomised
block design with 100 plants in each treatment. Plot of each treatment
was 5x5 metre, the distance between each replicate of treatment being 2
metre. The soil of experiment site was sandy loam, the total soil nitrogen
was 0.020-0.024% and available phosphorus was 2-5 ppm with the pH 8.6.
The indigenous Rhizobium population was one Rhizobium per gram dry
soil and this land was not under any agricultural practices for the last 10
years.
Sampling and Nitrogenase Activity

The plants were harvested 4,8 and 12 months after transplantation.
A pit ( 1 metre deep and 0.5 metre in radius) was dug around the plant
and then filled with water. Roots at 1 metre were then cut and plants
removed. All nodules with feeder roots were taken in 300 ml flask and 10%
86
acetylene was added. Samples (1 ml) of gas were removed after 30 and 60
minutes of incubation by gas tight syringe and ethylene production
determined using a Perkin Elmer Gas Chromatograph equipped with a
flame ionization detector and 2 metre stainles steel column ( 2 mm
diameter) filled with porapark N(80-100 mesh).
Shoot, root and nodule fresh weight and nodules number were
recorded. The whole plants were dried to constant weight at 70°C, milled
to fine powder and samples digested for Kjeldahl determination of total
nitrogen (Milton and Walters, 1948). Mycorrhizal infection was
determined by the procedure of Kormanik et al. (1982).
Nodule Occupancy
Nodules (100) from each treatment were collected randomly at zero
time and 12 months old plants.Nodules were surface sterilized and plated
on selective and non selective plates containing YEMA medium. Nodules
of uninoculated plants were also plated on selective and non selective
plates. The strains were identified utilizing their antibiotic resistant
character and microimmunodiffusion technique.
Nitrogenase Activity and Nodule Occupancy

Nitrogenase activity was assayed at 4, 8 and 12 months after
transplantation into field. Nitrogen fixation activity was much higher in
Leucaena as compared to Prosopis indicating that enzyme activity in
Leucaena is more than Prosopis. (Fig.1 and Fig.2). The nitrogenase
activity in L. leucocephala plant increased during the first four months
and then declined towards the eighth month (Fig.1). This coincided with
the onset of winters and senescence of the nodules. The arrival of spring
caused renodulation in both plants and thus an increase in nitrogenase
activity. However, in P. juliflora the nitrogenase activity increased at 4
month and remained constant at 8 month except isolate P5 and decreased
at 12 months (Fig.2). The extent of renodulation in Leucaena was much
more than in Prosopis (as seen by the number and weight of nodules, data
not shown). This observation prompted us to evaluate the extent of
87
a
C.)
0
a) Q)
CO
(0
Q)
a)
an 0
0 L
z
z
Months Months
Fig. 1 : Nitrogenase activity (p.mol Fig. 2 : Nitrogenase activity

CjH4/h/plant) in root nodules of L.leucocephala CzH4fhIplant) in root nodules of P.juli/lora at 4,
at 4, 8 and 12 months after transplanting. 8 and 12 months after transplanting. Values
Values are mean of 4 replicates. are mean of 4 replicates.
0 month
12 months
100
>
C.)
(Ii
75
a) 10
o CO
-c 50 a)
0 an
I
z 05
25 z
0
— ,.)
0 + < + ÷
(.0 (-
z < Z
0 0
0
0
Z
0(I)
:3
Fig. 3: Percent nodule occupancy of introduced Fig. 4 : Effect of VAM on nitrogenase activity
Rhizobium isolates in A.niolica at zero time in root nodules of L. leucocephala in 12 month
(during transplanting to field) and 12 month old plants. Values are mean of 4 replicates.
old plants.
renodulation by the introduced strains of Rhizobium in field trials with
Acacia since this was initiated one year later than both Leucaena and
Prosopis.
Immunological probes as well as antibiotic resistant pattern of the

introduced isolates ofAcacja were used to determine the extent of survival
of the-introduced isolates over a period of 12 months. Renodulation data
with USDA 3325, AB3 and AD4 of Acacia showed that among these three
strains AB3 was the most competitive for survival and renodulatioii in
that ecosystem (Fig.3). In uninoculated control plants the nodulation at
zero time(during transplanting from nursery to field) was very poor and
renodulation was negligible after 12 months of transplanting.
Renodulation in L. l.eucocephala was higher than in P. juliflora and A.
nilotica. L. leucocephala is a surface rooter while P.juliflora andA. nilotica
are deep rooters. The movement of Rhizobium isolates in the soil is very
minimal. P. and A. nilotica being deep rooters, the renodulation
of only the surface roots is possible thus decreasing the total nodule
number. In L. leucocephala the extent of renodulation is higher, it being
a surface rooter. Enhanced renodulation increased nitrogenase activity
inL. leucocephalaat 12 months as compared toP.juliflora andA. nilotica.
Effect of VAM on Nitrogenase Activity

In L. leucocephala the nitrogenase activity ofRhizobium isolate Al
was enhanced five fold with indigenous mycorrhizae (Fig.4). However,
indigenous mycorrhizae did not enhance the nitrogenase activity of
Rhizobium isolate A3. In A. nilotica the nitrogenase activity of only one
Rhizobium isolate AD4 was increased with VAM isolate G. fasciculatum
at 12 months but the activity of other two inoculum Rhizobium isolates
AB3 and USDA 3325 did not increase with G. fasciculatum after 12
months of transplantation (Fig.5). In P. juliflora no positive effect of
mycorrhiza on nodulation as well as nitrogenase activity was observed.
Effect of Rhizobium on Colonization

P. juliflora was inoculated with VAM isolates G. calospora, G.
caledonius and indigenous mycorrhizae. Maximum colonization was
observed in plants inoculated with G. calospora after 12 months of
89
transplanting (Fig.6). The colonization potential of G. calospora was not
enhanced by inoculum of any Rhizobium isolates but the per cent
colonization by G. caledonius and indigenous mycorrhizae increased due
to inoculation with Rhizobium strain TAL 600. In L. leucocephala the rate
of colonization by G. mosseae was enhanced by Rhizobium isolate A3 but
no effect on colonization with G. caledonius and indigenous mycorrhizae
was observed (Fig.7). mA. nilotica the percent colonization by Gigaspora
sp. and G. fasciculatum were not enhanced by any of Rhizobium isolates
used as inocula. However Rhizobium isolate AB3 stimulates per cent
colonization of indigenous mycorrhizae and recorded 15% higher
colonization (Fig.8).
Biomass
In P. juliflora the maximum dry weight yield at 12 months was
recorded in plants inoculated with TAL 600 (Fig.9) followed by plants
inoculated by indigenous mycorrhizae and G. caledonius respectively.
Indigenous mycorrhizae enhanced the nitrogenase activity of native
rhizobia but not with introduced Rhizobium isolates and thus enhanced
dry matter accumulation in indigenous mycorrhizae inoculated plants. In
L. leucocephala the total dry matter yield was higher with dual inoculation
of Rhizobium isolates A3 and NGR 8 with G. caledonius and indigenous
mycorrhizae respectively (Fig.10). This could be because of enhanced
nitrogenase activity of Rhizobium isolate A3 with G. caledonius. In A.
nilotica the higher dry matter production was recorded in plants
inoculated with Rhizobium strains USDA 3325, AB3 and dual inoculation
of AB3 with G. fasciculatum, respectively (Fig. 11).
In gener,al with dry matter yield it was observed that microbial

interaction was indeed beneficial to the plants at 12 months after
transplantation. - In Leuceana dual inoculation due to Rhizobium and
yAM enhanced total biomass production, while in Prosopis and Acacia
inoculation with Rhizobium alone was the best. It could be that in deep
rooters i.e. Prosopis and Acacia, mycorrhizae does not enhance/stimulate
association of Rhizobium with the plants while in surface rooters i.e.
Leucaena dual inoculation played an important role. Thus the root
physiology may play an important role in determining the microbial
benefits with tree legumes. Nodulation and nitrogenase activity were
90
regulated by temperature. In all the three tree legumes the onset of winter
caused senescence of the nodule and renodulation was observed with the
arrival of spring. Leucaena, a surface rooter renodulated more profusely
than the deep rooters Prosopis and Acacia. However the extent of
renodulation caused by the introduced isolate was very high in all the
three tree legumes indicating their survival and renodulation potential in
these ecosystems.
Initial observation with these three tree legumes suggest that

microbial interaction viz Rhizobium and vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae
may play an important role in the enhancement of tree biomass in
degraded or marginal soils.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors are thankful to the Director, Tata Energy Research
Institute for providing infrastructure to carry out this work and Mr. Karan
Singh for typing the manuscript.
REFERENCES
Ball E.M, 1990. Agar double diffusion plates. In: H. Hampton, E. Ball
and S. De Boor, (editors). Serological Methods for Detection and
Identification of Viral and Bacterial Plant Pat hogens. The
American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA,
pp. 111-120.
Basak M.K and Goyal S.K., 1975. Studies on tree legumes: 1. Nodulation
pattern and characterisation of the symbiont. Ann. Arid Zone.,
14:367-370.
Cornet F. and Diem H.G., 1982. Etude comparative de'efficaite et effet
de la double symbiose Rhizobium - Glomus mosseae sur la
croissanced d'Acacia holosericea etAcacia raddiana. Bois. For.
Trop., 198: 3-15.
Dreyfus B. and Dommergues Y., 1981a. Nodulation of Acacia species by
fast and slow growing tropical strains of Rhizobium. Appi.
Environ. Microbiol. 41 : 97-99.
Dreyfus B. and Dommergues Y., 1981 b. Relationship between rhizobia
of Leucaena and Acacia Spp. Leucaena Res. Rep., 2:43-44.
93
Habish H.A. and Khairi S.M., 1970. Nodulation of legumes in the Sudan
II. Rhizobium strains and cross inoculation of Acacia spp. Exp.
Agric., 6: 171-176.
Hogberg P. and Kvarnstrom M., 1982. Nitrogen fixation by woody
legume Leucaena leucocephala in Tanzania. Plant Soil, 66:
2 1-28.
Kormanik P.P., Schultz R.C. and Bryan W.C., 1982. The influence of
vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae on the growth and
development of eight hardwood species. Forest Sd., 20:531-539.
Milton R.F. and Walters W.A., 1948, Methods of Quantitative
Microanalysis. Arnold London.
National Academy of Sciences, 1979. In Tropical Legumes Resources
for the Future.. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.,
pp.123-163.
National Academy of Sciences, 1977. Leucaena: Promising Forage and
Tree Crop for the Tropics. National Academy of Sciences,
Washington D.C., ppll5.
Roskoski J.P., Petter I. and Pardo E., 1986. Inoculation of legnminous
trees with rhizobia and VA mycorrbizal fungi. For. Ecol. Manage,
6:57-68.
Thaper H.S., Kaniala V and Rawat D.S., 1990. Effect of VAM and
Rhizobium on growth of Acacia nilotica in saline and forest soil.
In: D.J. Bagyaraj and A. Manjunath. (editors) Mycorrhizal
Symbiosis and Plant Growth. Department of Agricultural
Microbiology, University of Agricultured Sciences, G.K.V.K.
Campus, Bangalore, pp 107-108.
94
ANNEXURE I
List of Participants
Dr Abha Agnihotn Dr VS Jaiswal

Tata Energy Research Institute Banaras Hindu University
90, Jor Bagh, Varanasi 221 005
New Delhi 110003
Mr Anil Kapahi
Dr HC Chaturvedi Tata Energy Research Institute
National Botanical Research Institute 158, Jor Bagh
17, Rana Partap Marg, New Delhi 110003
Lucknow, UP
Mr VK Kaul
DR RM Dayat Tata Energy Research Institute
Tata Energy Research Institute 101 Jor Bagh
101, Jor Bagh New Delhi 110003
New Delhi 110003
DrSunilKhanna
Dr Vibha Dhawan Microbiology and Molecular Genetic Unit
Tata Energy Research Institute Tata Energy Research Institute
90JorBagh 158, br Bagh
New Delhi 110003 New Delhi 110003
DrG.LakshmiSita
Dr SC Gupta
Department of Microbiology and
Cell Biology
University of Delhi
Indian Institute of science
Delhi 110007
Banglore 560 012
Dr V Jagannathan
DrBanwariLal
19, Kale Park
15-A Someshwadi
158, Jor Bagh
Pune 411008
NewDethi 110003
95
Dr P Mohan Kumar Dr RD Iyer
R&D Department Division of Crop Improvement
Tata Tea Limited Central Plantation Crops Reseaith Institute
Munnar ICAR
Kerala685 612 Kasargod67O 124
Kerala
Dr NS Rangaswamy
Department of Botany Dr IV Ramanuja Rao
University of Delhi Khoday Biotek
Delhi 110 003 7th Mile
Kanakapura Road
Ms Archana Nair
Bangalore 560 062
271-5, Schucht Village
University of Florida Dr Ashis Tarn Roy
Gainesville Unicorn Biotek Ltd.
Florida 32603-2224 2nd Floor
USA Tirumala Complex
SD Road
Dr Kanan Nanda
Secunderabad 500003
Andhra Pradesh
University of Delhi
Delhi 110007 Mr Rupinder Singh
Pinjore
Mr Biswajit Pal
District Ambala
Haryana
Tissue Culture Pilot Plant
Gual Pahari Campus Mr Sanjay Saxena
District Gurgaon, Haryana Tata Energy Research Institute
90, Jor Bagh
Mr Vijay G. Pande
New Delhi 110 003
IDRC
1l,JorBagh MrHLSharma
New Delhi 110003 Department of Non-conventional
Mr Ajay Panda Energy Sources
Department of Botany Block II CGO Complex

University of Delhi Lodhi Road
New Delhi 110007 New Delhi 110003
96
Dr Padmini Shivkumar Dr Renu Swarup
Forest Geneticist Department of Biotechnology
Forest Research Laboratory Block II
Kanpur 208 024 CGO Complex
Lodhi Road
Dr AK Singh
New Delhi 110 003
Tissue Culture Pilot Plant Dr UK Tomar
Gual Pahari Campus Tata Energy Research Institute
Haryana Tissue Culture Pilot Plant
Gual Pahari campus
Dr AK Singh
Distt. Gurgaon, Haryana
90, Jor Bagh Dr ilK Srivastava
New Delhi 110003 Department of Biotechnology
Government of India
DrYS Sodhi
Block II
CGO Complex
90, Jor Bagh
Lodhi Road
New Delhi 110003
New Delhi 110003
Mr Sandeep Sood
Deciduous Forest Research Institute
P0 Regional Forest Res. Centre
Mandla Road
Jabalpur 482 001, MP
97
ANNEXURE II
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
March 16, 1992

Venue: India International Centre (IIC), 40 Max Mueller Marg,
New Delhi 110 003
&30-9.30 AM Registration
9.30-10.30 AM Inauguration
Dr RK Pachauri Welcome Address
Dr S. Ramachandran Key Note Address
Mr Vijay G. Pande Address by Regional Director,
IDRC
Dr V. Jagannathan Overview of Tree Tissue Culture
Dr Vibha Dhawan Vote of Thanks
Tea Break
SESSION L TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES

Chairman: Dr V. Jagannathan
Ms Archana Nair
i) Experience with Forest Tree Tissue Culture
Dr G. Lakshmi Sita
ii) Micropropagation of Bamboos
Mr Sanjay Saxena
iii) Tissue Culture of Populus deltoides
Dr HC Chaturvedi
Lunch Break
99
SESSION I: CONTD.
Chairperson: Dr Deepak Pental

Ms Abha Agnihotri
iv) Tissue Culture of Grapes

Dr AK Singh
v) Role of Somatic Embryogeny in Mass
Propagation of Guava (Psidium guajava L.)
Dr VS Jaiswal
Tea Break
Discussion
a) Rapporteurs presentation followed by

Chairman's remark
b) Round Table Meeting on Problems
Associated with Tree Tissue Culture
Panelists:
Dr V Jagannathan
Dr Kanan Nanda
Dr HK Srivastava
Dr PK Ghosh
Prof NS Rangaswamy
Dr Deepak Pental
Prof SC Gupta
100
March 17, 1992
Venue: Tissue Culture Pilot Plant, Gual Pahari (Distt. Gurgaon)
SESSION COMMERCIALLSATION ASFWfS OF MICROPROPAGATION

Chairperson: Dr G Lakshmi Sita
Dr UK Tomar
i) Commercialisation of Plant Tissue Culture
Research in India
Dr N Raxnanuja Rao
ii) Plant Regeneration of East Indian Walnut
(Albizia lebbek) from Different Explants
Dr Asbis Taru Roy
iii) Large Scale Propagation of
Eucalyptus grandis
Mr P Mohan Kumar
iv) Tissue Culture of Albizia species
Dr UK Tomar
v) Tissue Culture Pilot Plant Facility for
Forest Tree Species
Dr Vibha Dhawan
Visit to Pilot Plant (Gual Pahari)
Lunch
Discussion
Panelists:
Dr SS Bhojwani
Dr IV Ramanuja Rao
Dr Renu Swarup
101
SESSION Ith CONVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES OF IMPROVING
FOREST YIELDS
Chairperson: Mr ON Kaul
Rapporteur: Sandeep Sood
1) A Brief Account of Forest Tree Improvement

in Uttar Pradesh
Dr Padmini Shivkuinar
ii) Comparison of Tissue Culture Plants Against
Seeddlings in Tectona grandi8
Mr RM Dayal
iii) Role of Microorganisms in Tree Biomass
Enhancement
Dr Sunil Khanna
Discussion
Panelists:
Mr ON Kaul
Dr HL Sharma
Dr KK Joshi
Tea
102
IDRC-TIFNET
The IDRC's Tree Improvement and Farm Forestry Network

(TIFNET) is an informal network for interchanging information,
exchanging plant material and to serve as a think tank for the scientists
involved in the IDRC sponsored projects relating to Tree Improvement,
Farm Forestry and allied subjects. An important activity of the network
is publication of periodical newsletters, research results and conference
proceedings. The network projects-recently completed/on going (some in
second or third phase) are listed below:
1. Paulownia (China)
2. Fuelwood (China)
3. Tissue Culture (India)
4. Multipurpose Trees (India)
5. Silvipasture (India)
6. Agroforestry (India)
7. Poplar Improvement (India)
8. Farm Forestry (Nepal)
9. Paulownia (Pakistan)
10. Farm Forestry (China)
11. Fruit Trees (India)
12. Coastal Agroforestry (India)
13. Himalaya Eco-rehabilitation
Printed at Nirmal Printers, T-304, Baijeet Nagar, New 008, Ph. : 5725388, 5728975, 5725105

Tissue Culture of Forest Tree Species - Recent Researches in India

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PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON MASS PROPAGATION OF TREE

SPECIES THROUGH IN VITRO METHODS'HELD AT NEW DELHI ON MARCH 16-17. 1992

TISSUE CULTURE OF FOREST TREE

ARCHIV IDRC - TIFNET

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON "MASS PROPAGATION OF TREE

SPECIES THROUGH IN VITRO METHODSHELD AT NEW DELHI ON MARCH 16-17w 1992

TISSUE CULTURE OF FOREST TREE

Through support for research, Canada's International Development

A. TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES

B. COMMERCL&L ASPECTS OF MICROPROPAGATION

The contribution of Plant Cell and Tissue Culture (PCTC) towards

The International Development Research Centre of Canada (IDRC)

With the objective of bringing together scientists of diverse

New Delhi - 110 003 Dev. Khurana

These proceedings are an outcome of the workshop "Mass

International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa,

arranging this workshop goes to Dr

A. TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES

Tissue culture is a well established technology for the ornamentals

The basic research in the field of tree tissue culture needs to be

B. COMMERCIAL ASP•ECTS OF MICROPROPAGATION

Tissue culture propagation is exploited on a commercial scale for

As industry is now interested in tissue culture, few problems have

C. CONVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES OF IMPROVING

The productivity of Indian forests is very low and there is

The role of microorganisms in biomass production is again a

The active participation of foresters in tree tissue culture work is

A.K. B.B. Sharma** and R.M. Pandey

Key words: Vitis, in vitro multiplication, clonal propagation

MATERIAL AND METhODS

a) Establishment of Shoot Tips inCulture

Growth of the shoot tips improved significantly at the lowest

Table 1 : Effect of NAA and BAP on per cent survival/growth of

10 0.5 88/85 89/87 80/65 85.67/79.00

15 0.5 85/00 81/00 75/00 80.33/00

Table 2 : Response of shoot tips on shoot production at different

Media Genotypes Mean

In vitro raised shoots did not vary significantly in their rooting

Barless M. and Skene K.G.M., 1980. Studies of the fragmental apex of

ASHIS TARU ROY

Key words : Albizia lebbek., apical bud, tissue culture,

The author has conducted a critical study on in vitro propagation of

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Off-shoots of elite Albizia lebbek (10-15 years old) trees growing in

The basic MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medIum was used

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

TABLE 1: Effect of different cytokinins and auxins on axillary and

Cytokinin Auxin No. of Cultures

When IAA was replaced with NAA, higher percentage of sprouting

Comparison of the results achieved on IAA and NAA supplemented

Experiment on explant type (apical and axillary buds) on

Culture of established buds on a medium containing 2.0 BAP

Table 2: Effect of different concentrations of cytokinins on

Cytokinin Conc.1 No. of Cultures No. of

1.0 22 40.9 1.3 ± 0.4

Auxin Conc. No. of Cultures No. of

IAA 0.1 38 47.4 1.4 ± 0.3

NAA 0.1 25 40.0 1.1±0.4

Many of the shoots which were regenerated did not undergo

2.0 0.1 41 60.9 2.3 ± 0.9

Table 5: Effect of explant type on multiple shoot formation, after

Explant type No. of cultures Cultures with No. of

Apicalbud 44 95.5 3.8± 1.0

Axillary bud 49 100.0 3.7 ± 0.9