Morfogénesis in vitro de Toona ciliata a partir de raquis de hojas jóvenes con tidiazuron In vitro morphogenesis of Toona ciliata from young leaf rachis using thidiazuron

The Meliacea are of great importance in construction and furniture-making. Toona ciliata is a Meliacea originally from the Himalayan region; it is known as Himalayan Cedar in Cuba. Natural regeneration occurs in this specie by seed diffusion and grafting; such propagation is limited. The object of this paper was to promote callus formation and plant regeneration in Toona ciliata from in vitro propagation. Two to three year old mature trees (Toona ciliata) were used. Rachis were taken from young branches from these plants. They were disinfected in 0.25% (w/v) mercuric chloride solution for 10 min followed by three rinses in autoclaved distilled-water.Theywere then established in MSsupplemented with 0-1 mg/Lthidiazuron culture medium. Nodular calluses were obtained having good morphogenic characteristics. Shoots sprouted from six-month-old calluses in the dark and plant regeneration was done in the light. AIB shoots were rooted in MS medium supplement with 1 mg/L IBA.