In vitro Propagation and Foliar Micromorphological Studies of Dillenia indica L.: An Underutilized Fruit Tree
By: Amit Singh, Srishti Yadav and Manoj K. Rai
References
- Abd El-Kadder E.M., Hammad H.H. 2012. In vitro propagation of Dillenia indica. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences 6(7): 452–457.
- Abdille M.H., Singh R.P., Jayaprakasha G.K., Jena B.S. 2005. Antioxidant activity of the extracts from Dillenia indica fruits. Food Chemistry 90(4): 891–896. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2004.09.002.
- Arora K., Rai M.K., Sharma A.K. 2022. Tissue culture mediated biotechnological interventions in medicinal trees: recent progress. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 150(2): 267–287. DOI: 10.1007/s11240-022-02298-1.
- Arora K., Sharma M., Srivastava J., Ranade S.A., Sharma A.K. 2010. Rapid in vitro cloning of a 40-year-old tree of Azadirachta indica A.Juss. (neem) employing nodal stem segments. Agroforestry Systems 78(1): 53–63. DOI: 10.1007/s10457-009-9230-1.
- Asthana P., Rai M.K., Jaiswal U. 2024. Factors affecting the micropropagation of Sapindus trifoliatus L. from nodal explants of mature tree. Current Biotechnology 13(1): 58–67. DOI: 10.2174/0122115501289941240109061526.
- Bandyopadhyay T., Gangopadhyay G., Poddar R., Mukherjee K.K. 2004. Trichomes: their diversity, distribution and density in acclimatization of teak (Tectona grandis L.) plants grown in vitro. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 78(2): 113–121. DOI: 10.1023/b:ticu.0000022534.03276.c5.
- Bhojwani S.S., Dantu P.K. 2013. Plant tissue culture: an introductory text. Springer, India, 309 p. DOI: 10.1007/978-81-322-1026-9.
- Boruah R., Saikia S., Islam S., Purkayastha M.D., Borah A. 2020. Dillenia indica: an underutilized fruit with gamut of food and industrial prospectives. Medicinal Plants 12(2): 214–219. DOI: 10.5958/0975-6892.2020.00028.3.
- Cai X., Wei H., Liu C., Ren X., Thi L.T., Jeong B.R. 2020. Synergistic effect of NaCl pretreatment and PVP on browning suppression and callus induction from petal explants of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. ‘Festival Maxima’. Plants 9(3); 346; 13 p. DOI: 10.3390/plants9030346.
- Chhajer S., Kalia R.K. 2017. Seasonal and micro-environmental factors controlling clonal propagation of mature trees of marwar teak [Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem]. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 39(2); 60; 15 p. DOI: 10.1007/s11738-017-2364-2.
- Choudhary D., Rai M.K., Shekhawat N.S., Kataria V. 2020. In vitro propagation of Farsetia macrantha Blatt. & Hallb.: an endemic and threatened plant of Indian Thar Desert. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 142(3): 519–526. DOI: 10.1007/s11240-020-01876-5.
- Chouhan R., Shekhawat N.S., Patel A.K., Ram K., Choudhary A., Ambawat S., Choudhary S.K. 2025. Meta-topolin mediated enhanced micropropagation, foliar-micromorphological evaluation and genetic homogeneity validation in African pumpkin (Momordica balsamina L.). South African Journal of Botany 180: 286–296. DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.03.005.
- Das M., Choudhury M., Sarma B.P. 2023. Dillenia indica L. In: Belwal T., Bhatt I.D., Devkota H.P. (Eds.), Himalayan fruits and berries. Academic Press, India, pp. 111–122. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-85591-4.00021-0.
- Das B.C., Das S.N. 2003. Cultivation of minor fruits. Kalyani Publishers, India.
- Dasanayaka B.I., Jinadasa R.N., Jayasuriya K.M.G.G., Phartyal S.S. 2022. Seed ecophysiology of elephant apple (Dillenia indica) – an important tree species of the Indomalayan realm. Ecological Research 37(4): 532–543. DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12312.
- De Klerk G.J., Van der Krieken W., De Jong J.C. 1999. The formation of adventitious roots: new concepts, new possibilities. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant 35(3): 189–199. DOI: 10.1007/s11627-999-0076-z.
- Ekka G., Jadhav S.K., Quraishi A. 2020. Effect of exogenous additives on oxidative stress and defense system of a tree: Zanthoxylum armatum DC. under in vitro conditions. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 140(3): 671–676. DOI: 10.1007/s11240-019-01759-4.
- Gabryszewska E.A., Norwa K., Norwa P., Majos D. 2025. Effect of medium composition and culture conditions on the in vitro multiplication, rooting and acclimatization of Helleborus ‘Molly’s White’ and ‘Anna’s Red’. Journal of Horticultural Research 33(2): 41–58. DOI: 10.2478/johr-2025-0016.
- Giri C.C., Shyamkumar B., Anjaneyulu C. 2004. Progress in tissue culture, genetic transformation and applications of biotechnology to trees: an overview. Trees 18(2): 115–135. DOI: 10.1007/s00468-003-0287-6.
- Grzelak M., Pacholczak A., Nowakowska K. 2024. Challenges and insights in the acclimatization step of micropropagated woody plants. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 159(3); 72; 20 p. DOI: 10.1007/s11240-024-02923-1.
- Hazarika B.N. 2006. Morpho-physiological disorders in in vitro culture of plants. Scientia Horticulturae 108(2): 105–120. DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2006.01.038.
- Kamboj P., Talukdar N.C., Banerjee S.K. 2019. Therapeutic benefit of Dillenia indica in diabetes and its associated complications. Journal of Diabetes Research 2019; 4632491; 7 p. DOI: 10.1155/2019/4632491.
- Kirillov V., Pathak A., Patel S.R., Serafimovich M., Daulenova M., Gorbachenkov M. et al. 2024. An efficient micropropagation protocol for an endangered tree species Aflatunia ulmifolia (Franch.) Vassilcz. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant 60(1): 28–38. DOI: 10.1007/s11627-023-10392-y.
- Krishna H., Sairam R.K., Singh S.K., Patel V.B., Sharma R.R., Grover M. et al. 2008 Mango explants browning: Effect of ontogenic age, mycorrhization and pre-treatments. Scientia Horticulturae 118(2): 132–138. DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2008.05.040.
- Kumar D., Mallick S., Vedasiromoni J.R., Pal B.C. 2010. Anti-leukemic activity of Dillenia indica L. fruit extract and quantification of betulinic acid by HPLC. Phytomedicine 17(6): 431–435. DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2009.07.010.
- Liu C., Fan H., Zhang J., Wu J., Zhou M., Cao F. et al. 2024. Combating browning: mechanisms and management strategies in in vitro culture of economic woody plants. Forestry Research 4; e032; 11 p. DOI: 10.48130/forres-0024-0026.
- Lodha D., Patel A.K., Shekhawat N.S. 2015. A high-frequency in vitro multiplication, micromorphological studies and ex vitro rooting of Cadaba fruticosa (L.) Druce (Bahuguni): a multipurpose endangered medicinal shrub. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants 21(3): 407–415. DOI: 10.1007/s12298-015-0310-6.
- Lux-Endrich A., Treutter D., Feucht W. 2000. Influence of nutrients and carbohydrate supply on the phenol composition of apple shoot cultures. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 60(1): 15–21. DOI: 10.1023/a:1006406527242.
- Lyyra S., Lima A., Merkle S. 2006. In vitro regeneration of Salix nigra from adventitious shoots. Tree Physiology 26(7): 969–975. DOI: 10.1093/treephys/26.7.969.
- Malik S.K., Chaudhury R., Kalia R.K. 2005. Rapid in vitro multiplication and conservation of Garcinia indica: a tropical medicinal tree species. Scientia Horticulturae 106(4): 539–553. DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2005.05.002.
- Manokari M., Mathiyazhagan C.R., Selvam P., Phulwaria M., Shekhawat M.S. 2020. Foliar micro-morphology: a promising tool to improve survival percentage of tissue culture raised plantlets with special reference to in vitro propagation of Vitex negundo L. Vegetos 33(3): 504–515. DOI: 10.1007/s42535-020-00134-5.
- Manokari M., Priyadharshini S., Shekhawat M.S. 2022. Repairing mechanism of foliar micro-morphological anomalies during acclimatization and field transfer of in vitro raised plantlets of Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult.: a medicinally important plant. Vegetos 35(2): 520–526. DOI: 10.1007/s42535-021-00317-8.
- Manokari M., Shekhawat M.S. 2017. Foliar micromorphology of in vitro-cultured shoots and field-grown plants of Passiflora foetida. Horticultural Plant Journal 3(1): 34–40. DOI: 10.1016/j.hpj.2017.01.009.
- Martínez M.T., Corredoira E., Vieitez A.M., Cernadas M.J., Montenegro R., Ballester et al. 2017. Micropropagation of mature Quercus ilex L. trees by axillary budding. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 131(3): 499–512. DOI: 10.1007/s11240-017-1300-x.
- Mehandru P., Shekhawat N.S., Rai M.K., Kataria V., Gehlot H.S. 2014. Evaluation of aeroponics for clonal propagation of Caralluma edulis, Leptadenia reticulata and Tylophora indica – three threatened medicinal Asclepiads. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants 20(3): 365–373. DOI: 10.1007/s12298-014-0240-8.
- Murashige T., Skoog F. 1962. A revised medium for rapid growth and bio assays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiologia Plantarum 15(3): 473–497. DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1962.tb08052.x.
- Nayak S., Bhat M.P., Udayashankar A.C., Lakshmeesha T.R., Geetha N., Jogaiah S. 2020. Biosynthesis and characterization of Dillenia indica-mediated silver nanoparticles and their biological activity. Applied Organometallic Chemistry 34(4); e5567; 9 p. DOI: 10.1002/aoc.5567.
- Pandey S., Singh M., Jaiswal U., Jaiswal V.S. 2006. Shoot initiation and multiplication from a mature tree of Terminalia arjuna Roxb. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant 42(5): 389–393. DOI: 10.1079/ivp2006790.
- Patel A.K., Lodha D., Shekhawat N.S. 2020. An improved micropropagation protocol for the ex situ conservation of Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth. (Rubiaceae): an endangered tree of pharmaceutical importance. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant 56(6): 817–826. DOI: 10.1007/s11627-020-10089-6.
- Peña L., Séguin A. 2001. Recent advances in the genetic transformation of trees. Trends in Biotechnology 19(12): 500–506. DOI: 10.1016/s0167-7799(01)01815-7.
- Permadi N., Akbari S.I., Prismantoro D., Indriyani N.N., Nurzaman M., Alhasnawi A.N. et al. 2024. Traditional and next-generation methods for browning control in plant tissue culture: Current insights and future directions. Current Plant Biology 38; 100339; 15 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpb.2024.100339.
- Phulwaria M., Rai M.K., Harish, Gupta A.K., Ram K., Shekhawat N.S. 2012. An improved micropropagation of Terminalia bellirica from nodal explants of mature tree. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 34(1): 299–305. DOI: 10.1007/s11738-011-0828-3.
- Pospíšilová J., Tichá I., Kadleček P., Haisel D., Plzáková Š. 1999. Acclimatization of micropropagated plants to ex vitro conditions. Biologia Plantarum 42(4): 481–497. DOI: 10.1023/a:1002688208758.
- Rademacher W. 2015. Plant growth regulators: backgrounds and uses in plant production. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 34(4): 845–872. DOI: 10.1007/s00344-015-9541-6.
- Ragonezi C., Klimaszewska K., Castro M.R., Lima M., de Oliveira P., Zavattieri M.A. 2010. Adventitious rooting of conifers: influence of physical and chemical factors. Trees – Structure and Function 24(6): 975–992. DOI: 10.1007/s00468-010-0488-8.
- Rai M.K., Asthana P., Jaiswal V.S., Jaiswal U. 2010. Biotechnological advances in guava (Psidium guajava L.): recent developments and prospects for further research. Trees – Structure and Function 24(1): 1–12. DOI: 10.1007/s00468-009-0384-2.
- Rai M.K., Jaiswal V.S., Jaiswal U. 2009. Shoot multiplication and plant regeneration of guava (Psidium guajava L.) from nodal explants of in vitro raised plantlets. Journal of Fruit and Ornamental Plant Research 17(1): 29–38.
- Rai P.K., Lalramnghinglova H. 2010. Ethnomedicinal plant resources of Mizoram, India: implication of traditional knowledge in health care system. Ethno-botany Leaflets 14(3): 274–305.
- Rathore J.S., Rai M.K., Phulwaria M., Shekhawat N.S. 2014. A liquid culture system for improved micropropagation of mature Acacia nilotica (L.) Del. ssp. indica and ex vitro rooting. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences 84(1): 193–200. DOI: 10.1007/s40011-013-0204-8.
- Rathore N.S., Rathore N., Shekhawat N.S. 2013. In vitro propagation and micromorphological studies of Cleome gynandra: a C4 model plant closely related to Arabidopsis thaliana. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 35(9): 2691–2698. DOI: 10.1007/s11738-013-1301-2.
- Rathwell R., Shukla M.R., Jones A.M.P., Saxena P.K. 2016. In vitro propagation of cherry birch (Betula lenta L.). Canadian Journal of Plant Science 96(4): 571–578. DOI: 10.1139/cjps-2015-0331.
- Saikia D., Kesavan R., Inbaraj B.S., Dikkala P.K., Nayak P.K., Sridhar K. 2023. Bioactive compounds and health-promoting properties of elephant apple (Dillenia indica L.): a comprehensive review. Foods 12(16); 2993; 25 p. DOI: 10.3390/foods12162993.
- Saikumar A., Nickhil C., Badwaik L.S. 2023. Physico-chemical characterization of elephant apple (Dillenia indica L.) fruit and its mass and volume modeling using computer vision. Scientia Horticulturae 314; 111947. DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2023.111947.
- Scaltrito E., Cristiano G., Sdao A.E., Gruda N.S., Locon-sole D., De Lucia B. 2024. Influence of water spraying intervals and indole-3-butyric acid concentrations on Salvia rooted cuttings quality in a closed aeroponics system. Scientia Horticulturae 337; 113452; 12 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2024.113452.
- Sharma B.P., Sureshrao G.A., Kshirsagar J.J., Kumar S. 2024. Unveiling the potential of Dillenia indica L.: A comprehensive review. In: Sharma B.P., Suple S.D., Mishra S., Rath S.K. (Eds.), Plants and secondary metabolites, vol. 3. Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, India. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13997051.
- Sharma N., Kumar N., James J., Kalia S., Joshi S. 2023. Strategies for successful acclimatization and hardening of in vitro regenerated plants: challenges and innovations in micropropagation techniques. Plant Science Today 10(sp2): 90–97. DOI: 10.14719/pst.2376.
- Sharma U., Kataria V., Shekhawat N.S. 2017. In vitro propagation, ex vitro rooting and leaf micromorphology of Bauhinia racemosa Lam.: a leguminous tree with medicinal values. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants 23(4): 969–977. DOI: 10.1007/s12298-017-0459-2.
- Shekhawat J.K., Rai M.K., Shekhawat N.S., Kataria V. 2021. Synergism of m-topolin with auxin and cytokinin enhanced micropropagation of Maytenus emarginata. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant 57(3): 418–426. DOI: 10.1007/s11627-020-10132-6.
- Shekhawat M.S., Manokari M. 2017. Comparative fo-liar micromorphological studies of in vitro and field transferred plants of Morinda citrifolia. Acta Botanica Hungarica 59(3–4): 427–438. DOI: 10.1556/034.59.2017.3-4.8.
- Singh A., Yadav S., Rai M.K. 2026. Somatic embryogenesis, secondary somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Dillenia indica L., an underutilized fruit tree. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant. DOI: 10.1007/s11627-025-10620-7.
- Taha L.S., Ibrahim E.A., Youssef N.M., El-Sayed I.M. 2018. In vitro culture development and secondary metabolites of Dillenia indica tree. American Journal of Plant Physiology 13(1): 44–52. DOI: 10.3923/ajpp.2018.44.52.
- Vibha J.B., Shekhawat N.S., Mehandru P., Dinesh R. 2014. Rapid multiplication of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.: a timber yielding tree legume through axillary shoot proliferation and ex vitro rooting. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants 20(1): 81–87. DOI: 10.1007/s12298-013-0213-3.
- Vujović T., Ružić D., Cerović R. 2012. In vitro shoot multiplication as influenced by repeated subculturing of shoots of contemporary fruit rootstocks. Horticultural Science (Prague) 39(3): 101–107. DOI: 10.17221/208/2011-hortsci.
- Yadav S., Singh A., Mohan M., Das S.N., Rai M.K. 2025. In vitro propagation, phytochemical analysis and assessment of antioxidative potential of micropropagated plants of Tecomaria capensis (Thunb.) Spach. South African Journal of Botany 185: 16–23. DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.07.045.
- Yazan L.S., Armania N. 2014. Dillenia species: a review of the traditional uses, active constituent and pharmacological properties from pre-clinical studies. Pharmaceutical Biology 52(7): 890–897. DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2013.872672.
- Zalt N., Yasmin S., Hamakhan A.M., Polat Ş., Yu H., Ge C. et al. 2024. Effect of auxins and activated carbon on in vitro rooting of two blueberry cultivars (Vaccinium corymbosum). Journal of Horticultural Research 32(2): 75–80. DOI: 10.2478/johr-2024-0016.
Language: English
Page range: 11 - 22
Submitted on: Oct 1, 2025
Accepted on: Feb 1, 2026
Published on: Apr 26, 2026
Published by: National Institute of Horticultural Research
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 issues per year
Related subjects:
© 2026 Amit Singh, Srishti Yadav, Manoj K. Rai, published by National Institute of Horticultural Research
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.