DIFFERENTIATION IN EXPLANTS FROM MATURE LEGUMINOUS TREES

Stem and petiole explants, obtained from mature trees, of Albizzia lebbeck, Cassia fistula and C. siamea callused and differentiated shoot-buds and later shoots on B5 medium supplemented with either 0.5 mg/l IAA + 1 mg/l BAP or BM + 2 mg/l NAA + 0.5 mg/l BAP. The stem explants were more responsive than the petiole explants. In A. lebbeck, the IAA substituted medium favoured differentiation from both types of explants. However, in C. fistula, the type of explants rather than the medium composition had an overriding influence on shoot differentiation since those from petiole hardly responded in either medium. It has been possible to obtain plantlets from both A. lebbeck and C. fistula under conditions conducive to rooting. Plantlets of A. lebbeck have also been successfully transferred to the field. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.