Plant regeneration through shoot formation from callus of Areca catechu L.

Plantlet formation through shoot formation from callus of the important palm species Areca catechu L. is described. Greenish soft callus was formed from shoot tip explants of Areca catechu L. within 4 weeks, when cultured on Gelrite-gelled MS basal medium (BM) supplemented with BA (0.2 mg l−1) plus TDZ (0, 0.02 and 0.2 mg l−1). The highest percentage of callus formation (100%) was found on the medium supplemented with 0.2 mg l−1 BA and 0.2 mg l−1 TDZ. During subculture on the same medium for callus induction, most of calluses proliferated and 50–60% formed shoots. About 90% of shoots formed roots on BM containing 0.1 mg l−1 NAA after 4 weeks in culture. Regeneration of plantlets from shoot tips via primary callus production and a two-step process of organogenesis, required about 20 weeks.