In-vitro propagation,biochemical studies and assessment of clonal fidelity through molecular markers in Bambusa balcooa

Micropropagation protocol of bambusa balcooa has been established using nodal explants with 92.5% success after acclimatisation. the extraction of chlorophyll from the epidermis of culms using acetone,dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide as solvents and the use of auxin in shoot multiplication are also reported for the first time in this species. due to stringent environmental conditions in the greenhouse,electrolyte leakage percentage (67.4 ± 2.4%) was found to be higher in ex-vitro raised plants whereas relative water content percentage (72.7 ± 2.3%) was higher in in-vitro grown plants. analysis of total soluble sugars (16.5 ± 0.78 mg g-1) and starch content (6.32 ± 0.55 mg g-1) displayed in-vitro plants to be richer in carbohydrates reserves. however,lignin content (28.74 ± 1.59 mg l-1),stomatal density (56.0 ± 2.64 in 140 μm 2) and leaf area index (4.66 ± 0.81 cm2) were greater under ex-vitro conditions. molecular characterisation using 25 random amplified polymorphic dna and 15 inter-simple sequence repeats markers exhibited 89 amplified products depicting no polymorphism between parent clump and in-vitro raised plants. © 2014 forest research institute malaysia.