Culture of various explants of nutmeg, Myristica fragrans Houtt. and factors affecting callogenesis

Explants from juvenile non-woody plants of nutmeg, Myristica fragrans Houtt. as well as broken zygotic embryos and macewere cultured to assess their responses. Nodal explants cultured in halfstrength MS medium with 5 mg/Ibenzylaminopurine (BAP) showed axillary bud break and formation of single axillary shoots. Adventitious buds were formed on the surface of stem segments and also in petioles cultured on MS media with 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Explants from mature leaves produced whitish, granular callus while those from immature leaves produced soft, translucent, friable callus with embryo-like structures. Callusing could be induced in mace explants by 0.5 mg/l thidiaguron (TDZ). Callusing was induced on zygotic embryo piece initially cultured in light, in media with activated charcoal, on transfer to non-charcoal media.