In vitro propagation of the bamboo (Bambusa tulda Roxb.) through shoot proliferation

An efficient protocol has been developed for the in vitro propagation of Bambusa tulda through shoot proliferation. Shoots from 3-week-old aseptically grown seedlings were used to initiate cultures. Multiple shoots were obtained on liquid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (8×10(-6)M) and kinetin (4×10(-6)M). Continuous shoot proliferation at a rate of 4-5 fold every three weeks was achieved through forced axillary branching. More than 90% of the shoots could be rooted on a modified MS medium containing indoleacetic acid (1×10(-5)M) and coumarin (6.8×10(-5)M). Following simple hardening procedures, the in vitro raised plants were transferred to the soil with more than 80% success.