In vitro propagation of Aegle marmelos (L.) Corrêa via nodal cultures: effects of auxin– cytokinin combinations and acclimatization substrates

Aegle marmelos (L.) is a medium-sized deciduous tree. It is a subtropical plant that can adapt to a wide range of habitats and can be grown worldwide, including in India, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam. We optimized an in vitro micropropagation protocol using nodal explants. On MS medium, the combination 1.5 mg L⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) + 0.5 mg L⁻¹ indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) produced the highest number of shoots (4.90 per explant at 8 weeks), significantly higher than the hormone-free control. For rooting, 1.0 mg L⁻¹ α-naphthaleneacetic acid (α-NAA) + 1.5 mg L⁻¹ IBA yielded the greatest root number (3.23) and length (1.49 cm) at 8 weeks. During acclimatization, plantlets transferred to rice husk:coconut fiber:loam (1:2:2) achieved 100% survival and vigorous growth. This reproducible protocol supports large-scale multiplication of disease-free A. marmelos plantlets for cultivation and conservation.