PRELIMINARY CONSERVATION EFFORT ON RHIZOPHORA ANNAMALAYANA KATHIR., THE ONLY ENDEMIC MANGROVE TO INDIA, THROUGH IN VITRO METHOD

An efficient protocol was established for in vitro clonal propagation for Rhizophora annamalayana Kathir. the only endemic mangrove species to India. Initially the explants were surface sterilized appropriately with 0.1% mercuric chloride for one minute, 70% ethanol for 30 seconds and 3% hydrogen peroxide for one minute. Then the explants were treated with three different antioxidants for reduction of phenol browning of the explants. Among the antioxidants, 10 mg/L ascorbic acid was found to be the best. Among the five different tissue culture media - B5, WPM, MS, SH and Y3- tested, MS medium was chosen to be the best for meristem culture. Among the growth regulators, cytokinins (benzyl adinine, kinetin and zeatin) used alone and in combination with auxins (naphthalene acetic acid, indole acetic acid, indole butyric acid), the shoot growth was better observed after 20 days when MS medium was incorporated with 3.0 mg/L of benzyl adinine and 3.0 mg/L of kinetin with coconut milk. This is the initial step of tissue culture for the recovery of the fast disappearing Rhizophora annamalayana Kathir. Further research is progressing on mass multiplication and field transfer.