Biochemistry Division, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune-411 008
Vegetative buds from nodal explants of Annona hybrid opened and formed three to four multiple shoots on a Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with Kin, BAP and CH. After limited growth the shoot tips started browning on this medium. On subculture on MS basal medium supplemented with Kin and BAP (at different concentrations) without CH, a higher number (6–7) of condensed shoot buds were formed. When these shoot buds were transferred to the same basal medium supplemented with lower levels of Kin and BAP there was an appreciable elongation of the shoot buds. These shoots rooted on a MS (½ strength) medium containing activated charcoal after treatment with 50 mg/l 1BA contained in MS (i strength) semi-solid medium for three days in dark and thirteen days in light (1000 lux). Rooted plantlets were successfully transferred to the field where 80 per cent of them survived.
