Cloning of Maytenus emarginata (Willd.) Ding Hou - a tree of the Indian Desert, through tissue culture.

An in vitro method for cloning and mass multiplication of Maytenus emarginata, a highly drought resistant tree of the Indian Desert, has been developed. Shoot segments harvested from a "plus" tree (30-year-old) were cultured to produce multiple shoots (10-15 shoots/explant) on MS medium containing 0.1 mgl(-1) IAA and 2.5mgl(-1) BAP. In vitro produced shoots were cut into segments and cultured on shoot proliferation medium but with only 1.0 mgl(-1) of BAP to further multiply the shoots. Isolated individual shoots were cultured on a filter paper bridge in half strength MS liquid medium containing 25 mgl(-1) of IBA for 72 h in the dark at 28±2(0) C for induction of root(s). About 70-80 percent of shoots rooted. The treelets developed were hardened and transferred to pots. Around 20,000 plants can be obtained from a single explant within a period of 6 months. The protocol is highly reproducible and efficient.