TY - BOOK AU - Yasodha R AU - Gurumurthi K AU - Sumathi R TI - Micropropagation for quality propagule production in plantation forestry PY - 2004/// PB - Indian Journal of Biotechnology KW - Acacia KW - Bamboos KW - Eucalypts KW - Micropropagation KW - Plantation forestry KW - Teak KW - Tree improvement N2 - Plantation forestry is the major source of raw material for industrial and domestic wood products and perpetually provides renewable energy, fiber and timber. Successful plantation forestry is dependent on effective research and development leading to technological advances. In hard wood plantation establishment, micropropagation is preferred for the production of quality planting stock because of its very high multiplication rate with instant silviculture gains. Integration of micropropagation in tree improvement is essential for the replication of improved genetic material and rapid releasr of quality propagules. Further, in vitro propagation is also required for difficult to root; rescuing of important mature individuals and natural hybrids; and producing stock plants for clone bank establishment and conserving the important germplasm. Thus, the approaches for micropropagation should be species oriented to fit into the existing strategies of tree improvement. In this paper, the recent advances made towards the production of quality plantlets through micropropagation of hardwood tree species, such as eucalyptus, acacia, teak and bamboos, are presented. Further, the strategies for the multiplication of elite genotypes and the use of micropropagules as planting stock in plantation forestry and discussed ER -