Somatic embryogenesis and plantlets regeneration from seedling explants of Santalum album L. (Santalaceae)

India has a varietal emporium of medicinal plants and is one of the richest countries in the world with regard to the genetic resources of medicinal plants. Santalum album is an economically important tree harvested for heartwood and heartwood oil. Heartwood oil is useful in medicines of many diseases. A reproducible system for somatic embryogenesis and plantlet formation of sandalwood has been developed. High number of direct somatic embryo proliferation from leaf explants was observed in MS medium containing 2,4-D 13.50 µM showed 60.0 ±5.0 percentage of response. The maximum rooting response achieved on medium supplemented only with 2.46µM IBA was 70 per cent with an average of 5.3 ±0.25 roots per shoot. Rooted plantlet was transferred to paper cups containing sterile soil, sand and vermiculite.