Micropropagation of juvenile and mature Annona muricata L

A complete micropropagation system using juvenile or mature explants of soursop (Annona muricata L.), a tropical fruit tree, was developed. Adventitious bud and shoot proliferation were achieved from hypocotyls of seedlings. Lateral shoots were stimulated from the initiated meristems in nodal explants of mature trees. Increasing concentrations of BAP added to the basic Woody Plant Medium stimulated up to four or five shoots per explant in nodal cuttings or hypocotyls, respectively. The addition of NAA with BAP was essential for outgrowth of buds. Rooting was stimulated by galactose and NAA after explants were preconditioned for two weeks in a plain medium containing 10 g I-1 of activated charcoal. The rooted plantlets were acclimatized successfully.