Micropropagation for quality propagule production in plantation forestry

• Published in: Indian journal of biotechnology Vol. 3; no. 2; pp. 159 - 170
• Main Authors: Yasodha, R, Sumathi, R, Gurumurthi, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.04.2004
• Subjects: Acacia; Eucalyptus; Verbenaceae
• ISSN: 0972-5849

Plantation forestry is the major source of raw material for industrial and domestic wood products and perpetually provides renewable energy, fiber and timber. Successful plantation forestry is dependent on effective research and development leading to technological advances. In hard wood plantation establishment, micropropagation is preferred for the production of quality planting stock because of its very high multiplication rate with instant silvicultural gains. Integration of micropropagation in tree improvement is essential for the replication of improved genetic material and rapid release of quality propagules. Further, in vitro propagation is also required for rejuvenating productive clones, which are difficult to root; rescuing of important mature individuals and natural hybrids; and producing stock plants for clone bank establishment and conserving the important germplasm. Thus, the approaches for micropropagation should be species oriented to fit into the existing strategies of tree improvement. In this paper, the recent advances made towards the production of quality plantlets through micropropagation of hardwood tree species, such as eucalypts, acacia, teak and bamboos, are presented. Further, the strategies for the multiplication of elite genotypes and the use of microproagules as planting stock in plantation forestry are discussed.