In vitro regeneration of Quercus floribunda Lindl. through cotyledonary nodes: an important tree of Central Himalaya

A regeneration protocol has been developed for Quercus floribunda Lindl. using cotyledonary nodes (with attached cotyledons but without radicle and primary shoot) as explants. Multiple shoots were induced on woody plant (WP) or MS medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA), either alone or in combination with gibberellic acid (GA3). BA (22.19 μM) was much more effective in WP medium for induction of multiple shoots; addition of GA3 (2.89 μM) resulted in thinner but slightly longer shoots. Rooting (83.3%) of regenerated shoots involved a two-step procedure where the microshoots were treated with indole-3-butyric acid (100 μM) for 24 h followed by transfer to plant growth regulator-free half-strength WP medium. Ninety per cent plantlets were successfully established in earthen pots containing soil and farmyard manure (3:1).