In vitro mass multiplication of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam var. Tekam yellow

A protocol for rapid micropropagation of Artocarpus heterophyllusfrom seeds of a single fruit was established. The seeds were successfully sterilised using 40% Clorox (20 min) + 20% Clorox (15 min) and 50% Clorox (20 min) + 20% Clorox (15 min). The survivability percentage was 44.44%, while the contamination percentage was 14.81%. Experiments to assess the effect of shoot tip and different node positions on shoot induction, and to test the effect of decapitation on shoot proliferation were performed. The explants used for both experiments were derived from 8-week-old seedlings grown in half-strength MS basal media supplemented with 2.5 mg/L BAP. There was no significant difference in terms of percentage of explants regenerating shoots and mean shoot number produced per explants. However, node 2 significantly produced the highest mean shoot length (2.53 cm). In the decapitation experiment, there was no significant difference in terms of percentage of explants regenerating shoots and mean shoot length. Nevertheless, decapitated shoots significantly produced the highest mean shoot number per explant (18.33). 2.5 mg/L BAP was chosen as the best treatment for shoot induction from seed with a mean shoot number of 7.33 and mean shoot length of 2.95 cm. For shoot multiplication, 1.0 mg/L BAP significantly produced the highest mean shoot number (17.13), while 5.0 mg/L BAP significantly produced the highest shoot length (2.95 cm). For rooting, IBA at 2.5 mg/L and 5.0 mg/L produced the highest mean root number at 18.73 and 17.27 respectively. The highest mean root length (3.37 cm) was significantly obtained in the control treatment. The plantlets were successfully acclimatised in a potting mixture consisting of top soil and organic soil (1:1) with 88.89% survival rate.