In vitro propagation of walnut varieties from Uttarakhand

Abstract

The Persian walnut, or English walnut, is one of the most prized walnuts, popular for its timber, medicinal properties, oil, and nuts. Due to its high demand across the globe, walnut cultivation has exponentially grown over the years. Despite having the appropriate climate, the state of Uttarakhand still does not cultivate walnut on a large scale. The alternative to growing walnuts with better quality and high production is through in vitro propagation. The present study was conducted to propagate walnut varieties growing in the Uttarakhand region through direct and indirect organogenesis. The DKW medium proved to be the most effective for nodal explant culture, while the MS medium yielded superior results for callus induction. We also optimized the media by varying the liquid/semisolid medium and plant growth regulator combinations. The genotype from higher altitudes of Uttarakhand was found to respond better to the in vitro treatments. The findings can prove useful in propagating good-quality walnut varieties in Uttarakhand on a large scale.