Micro Propagation of E hybrid

INTRODUCTION

1.1.      Background

In recent years the size of plantation forest in Indonesia has increased considerably, particularly for short rotation (5 – 7 years).  Even though the area planted was far less than what had  been  planned, it is quite clear that Indonesia is determined to have a large plantation forest estate to compensate the reduction of natural forest due to conversion into other land uses (Hardiyanto, E.B and Tridasa, A.M. 2000). 

The economic benefits of planted forest have led to their widespread adoption throughout the world.  Globally, 48% of the forest plantation is established for industrial use, 26% for non industrial use and 26% is not specified.  The current extent of world’s plantation forest area is about 187 million hectares (m ha) with the annual planting 4.5 m ha. ( Yasodha et al. 2004).

Role of micro propagation in plantation forestry is to quickly transfer the ever improving material from the breeding program into plantation.   Micro propagation system, such as axillary and adventitious shoot multiplication and somatic embryogenesis, employed in plantation forestry is regarded as an imperative strategy to achieve rapid genetic gain.  These technique are currently in use for the large scale multiplication of important tree species such as eucalyptus.  The potential impact of cloning through micro propagation methods on planted forests now well recognized.  The role of tissue culture for the production of quality propagules in tree species has recently been emphasized.  The production of inter specific F1 hybrid in eucalypts has received a lot of attention since the outstanding success of the E urophyllaX E grandis hybrid clonal propagation  program in Brazil and can be produced massively using axillary or adventitious shoot bud multiplication in short period (Pangaribuan, F. 2010).

 Shoot Initiation

 Multiplication

 Rooting