In vitro propagation of Gyrinops walla Gaetner ‘Walla patta’, a vulnerable agarwood producing species in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Aloeswood or Agarwood has long been a perfumery commodity traded between Mediterranean Region and Southeast Asia since B. C. era. Oil or chips obtained by destructive harvesting of several Thymeleaceous genera including Aquilaria and Gonystylus are expensive and such ingredients are high in demand in the global market. The recent discovery of Gyrinops walla as a potential producer of market-quality agarwood in mature damaged woods and branches, intensified illicit felling and exportation of G. walla that led to it being in the verge of extinction from Sri Lankan flora. The sustainable utilization of G. walla undoubtedly enhances the foreign exchange of the country and the non-destructive utilization G. walla through tissue culture-based techniques is the only option available for sustainable exploitation and conservation of the vulnerable G. walla species. Micropropagation of G. walla was achieved by varying concentrations of BAP and NAA on MS medium to produce shoot and root with leaf-derived callus, respectively. The phytohormone concentrations of 3.0 mg/l BAP and 2.0 mg/l NAA proved the optimum concentrations for shoot and root induction, respectively. The callus turned to green and produced fewer buds. Roots were protruded out from the calli in the root induction medium. The findings of the study led to conclude that the micropropagation was viable in potential as an in vitro system for sustainable utilization and conservation endeavours of G. walla.