RAPID AND LARGE SCALE MICROPROPAGATION OF TRUE TO TYPE CLONE OF MUSSAENDA ERYTHOPHYLLA SCHUM AND THOM CV. SCARLET THROUGH SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS

A somatic embryogenesis was attempted for ‘scarlet’ variety of Mussaenda. MS medium containing 2mg/l BAP, 0.5mg/l NAA and 100mg/l L-glutamine produced the best amount of embryogenic callus. Transfer of differentiating calli into the medium containing lower concentrations of cytokinin and auxin and addition of 50mg/l CH and 100mg/l L-glutamine resulted into the development of cotyledonary stage embryoids. Maturation of somatic embryoids and subsequent plant regeneration was accomplished in MS medium supplemented with L-glutamine (100mg/l) and CH (50mg/l).
Isoenzyme studies on peroxidase exhibited no differences between donor and in vitro regenerated plants. Cytological analysis also did not reveal any marked differences either in chromosome number or structure between the donor and in vitro regenerated plants.