Full Length Research Paper

In vitro clonal propagation of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.)

M. Shahin-uz-zaman¹, M. Ashrafuzzaman^1,2*, M. Shahidul Haque¹ and Lutfun Nahar Luna¹

¹Department of Biotechnology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh.

²Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: drashraf2007@yahoo.com. Fax: +8809155810.

Abbreviations: BAP, 6-benzyl amino purine; NAA, α-naphthalene acetic acid; IBA, indole-butyric acid; IAA, indole-3-acetic acid.

Accepted 29 November, 2007

A study was conducted with root and shoot tip explants of neem to develop an efficient protocol of regeneration. Shoot tips and root tips from 10 - 20 days old seedlings of neem were cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of BAP (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 mg l^-1) and NAA (0.0 and 0.05 mg l^-1). Shoot buds were initiated from the both explants. The highest percentage of regeneration was found from shoot tip but the highest average number of shoots/explants was found from root tip explants. The regenerated shoots were further subcultured and later could be rooted on a medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of IBA and IAA and complete plants could be obtained. The rooted plants were transplanted to pots for hardening.

Key words: Neem, root tip, shoot tip, explants, indole-butyric acid, indole-3-acetic acid.