Tissue culture of Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia Roxb.)

Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. (Fabaceae), famed for its wood, is a vulnerable plant species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List as a result of its over-utilisation. This mini-review, which provides a synthesis of the micropropagation of this woody plant species, can be useful for the establishment of a more focused and comprehensive micropropagation protocol. An in-depth analysis of previously published reports indicates that the most commonly employed explant in D. latifolia in vitro regeneration protocols are seedling-derived explants such as cotyledonary nodes since the use of ex vitro material leads to considerable contamination and phenolic oxidation. The media composition for culture initiation, multiplication, maintenance and rooting has been thoroughly studied but in most studies, pertinent information about acclimatization and plant survival in the field was not provided, reducing the reproducibility of protocols. This mini-review provides possible solutions to overcome explant contamination and browning during D. latifolia in vitro culture establishment.