Attached
Gyrinops walla (Gaertn.) (Thymelaeaceae) is a slender tree which grows in wet zone regions in Sri
Lanka. Potentiality of production of resinous natural product, agarwood, which used in perfumery
and medicine manufacturing, grant a great demand for this species in worldwide. In vitro
micropropagation technique may be a practicable solution to provide healthy planting materials in
commercial scale, in order to overcome the problems caused to the natural population due to
overexploitation. Thus, using leaf disc explant, possibilities of mass propagation through in vitro
techniques was explored in in vitro study. Explants were surface sterilized using 0.2% carbendazim,
10% sodium hypochlorite (Clorox) and 70% ethanol each followed by two successive washings in
sterile distilled water. Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with varied
concentrations of different plant growth regulators, 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and
naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) were tested for induction of calli from leaf discs. Out of different
growth regulator combinations, rapid callus growth was observed in MS medium supplemented with
1.0 mg/L BA and 3.0 mg/L NAA within six weeks. Calli obtained were yellowish, compact and
callus induction was mainly observed along the midrib. Calli obtain could either be used for mass
propagation, through indirect organogenesis or for establishment of plant cell culture to obtain
secondary metabolites. From the results obtain, it could be concluded that callus initiation is feasible
through leaf disc explant
