In Vitro Callus Production from Leaf and Stem Explant of Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria Excelsa L.)

Necessary conditions for callus production from leaf and stem explants of Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria excelsa L.) have been studied. MS and BM culture media containing 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 mg/l NAA, IBA, 2,4-D and picloram supplemented with 30 g/l sucrose were used. Callus was initiated in both culture media only in the presence of picloram and in the dark, but BM culture medium produced more callus than MS and its amount was more in the stem explants as compared with the leaf explants. In order to originate somatic embryos, calli were transferred to MS and BM culture media containing low concentrations of NAA, IBA, 2,4-D, and picloram (0.1 and 0.2 mg/l each) and without auxin supplemented with 30 g/l mannitol, 30 g/l ABA, 4 g/l PEG and 80 g/l of sucrose, but no somatic embryos were originated from the calli in the above media.