Comparative foliar micromorphological studies of in vitro and field transferred plants of Duranta erecta L.

The micromorphological studies of in vitro and field transferred plants of Duranta erecta were conducted in the present investigation. The nodal shoot segments were used as explants for the establishment of cultures. The shoots were multiplied on MS medium (Murashige and Skoog) supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (Kin) and Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). In vitro multiplied shoots were rooted on half strength MS medium augmented with indole-3 butyric acid (IBA). The rooted plantlets were successfully hardened and field transferred. A comparative foliar micromorphological studies were made of in vitro grown and field transferred plants to understand the developmental changes of micro-external structures of plants towards environment. The differences in leaf constants such as stomata, vein-islets and termination numbers and trichomes across the environments imply the developmental changes of micropropagated plants of Duranta erecta.