Micropropagation of Psiadia arguta through cotyledonary axillary bud culture

A micropropagation protocol for Psiadia arguta, an endangered endemic plant from Mauritius is described using 15-day old in vitro seedling explants without the radicle. MS basal medium supplemented with TDZ (0.5–1 mg/l) proved to be the most effective medium for the induction of cotyledonary axillary buds as compared to MS medium containing NAA (0.5 mg/l) or both NAA (0.5 mg/l) and TDZ (0.5–1 mg/l). In fact, after transfer to hormone free MS medium, microshoots were obtained only from seedling explants cultured on media containing only TDZ. Regenerated shoots elongated and rooted when cultured on MS8900 containing IBA (0–1 mg/l). Hormone-free MS8900 was the best medium for rooting and development of plantlets for acclimatization.