Micropropagation of Champedak (Artocarpus integer (Thunb.) Merr.) and Acclimatization of Plantlets in the Greenhouse Conditions

Abstract

Champedak (Artocarpus integer (Thunb.) Merr.) is a native fruit tree in the South that holds economic significance, prompting farmers to increase its cultivation. There is a growing market for this fruit among both domestic and international consumers. However, the propagation of champedak through cleft grafting from branches is often hindered by disease infestations. Therefore, the seeds were propagated through tissue culture by surface-sterilizing them in a 25% of sodium hypochlorite solution for 25 minutes. They were then cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0-2 mg/L of Benzylaminopurine (BA), with or without 0.2% activated charcoal (AC), for 3 months. The results revealed that culture medium จsupplemented with 2 mg/L of BA and 0.2% activated charcoal (AC) gave the highest plant regeneration (80%), whereas culture medium without AC gave the highest number of shoots (6.25 shoots/explant). Shoot proliferation from shoot explants cultured on semi-solid MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L of BA gave the highest number of multiple shoot formations (4.70 shoots/explant) after 3 months of culturing. Root induction from shoot explants was cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L NAA with wounding, and 3 mg/L of NAA without wounding gave the highest percentage of root formation, up to 100%, while culture medium with 2 mg/L NAA gave the highest number of roots (6.80 roots/explant). After 3 months, the plantlets, measuring 10 cm in height, were acclimatized in a mixture of soil, burnt husk and chicken manure at a ratio of 2:1:1. This combination resulted in the highest survival rate of 70%, which was recorded one month after the transfer to the soil.