Tissue culture of endangered Bael tree (Aegle marmelos ): A Review

Abstract

Tissue culture is a proven means of producing millions of identical plants under a controlled and aseptic condition, independent of seasonal constraints. It not only provides economy of time and space but also gives greater output and allows further augmentation of elite disease free propagules. Most of these crops have medicinal value and are suitable for growing under marginal situations. The commercial production of these crops is restricted due to the shortage of desirable planting material. Tissue culture can play an important role in rapidly increasing new cultivars of these fruit crops. This review paper outlines the work done on Aegle marmelos (Linn) family Rutaceae. Aegle marmelos (Linn) family Rutaceae is highly reputed ayurvedic medicinal tree commonly known as the bale fruit tree, is medium sized tress growing throughout the deciduas forest of India of altitude 1200 meter. The collection and evaluation of over 1200 bael (Aegle marmelos Correa) trees in West Bengal was initiated in 1994. Six types have been identified as superior clones and are being conserved at the Faculty of Horticulture Research Station located at 23.5 North latitude and 89 East longitudes. Wide variability in yield (20–437 fruits/tree), fruit weight (130–1825 g), fruit shape, rind thickness, pulp colour, number of seeds, total soluble solids (23–42 °Brix), fruit acidity (0.23–0.44%) and ascorbic acid (22–30 mg/100 g) content of fruit were observed among the genotypes. The clones T1, T5, T8, T10, T15 and T16 were selected for cultivation. The method standardised could be used for large scale planting material production and conservation of this important endangered medicinal plant. The hardened plants are being evaluated under field condition. The micropropagated plants were tested for its genetic fidelity using 12 RAPD, 2 micro-satellite and 2 mini-satellite primers. Profile obtained by all the three single primer amplification reaction (SPAR) technique obtained from mother tree and micropropagated plants were found identical which suggests the genetic uniformity of micropropagated plants with that of mother tree.