Archana Rani

Micropropagation of serpgandha (Rauvolfia serpentina L. Benth): An endangered medicinal plant

An efficient protocol for propagation of Rauvolfia serpentina through in vitro culture was standardized. Of the various combinations of phytohormones evaluated, 0.5 mg L−1 indole acetic acid (IAA) + 0.5 mg L−1 benzyl amino purine (BAP) + 1.0 mg L−1 kinetin highly favoured callus induction (32.8%). High callus-mediated shoot regeneration was seen on MS medium supplemented with 1.0mgL−1 IAA+0.5mgL−1 BAP+ 0.5 mg L−1 kinetin. Low auxin (IAA, 0.5 mg L−1) with higher concentration of cytokinin(0.5mgL−1 BAP+1.0mgL−1 kinetin) gavehighershootsculture−1 (6.6) with mean shoot length of 3.2 cm. In direct shoot regeneration, best growth of axillary shoots was achieved in MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg L−1 IAA + 0.2 mg L−1 BAP + 0.2 mg L−1 kinetin with maximum shoots culture−1 (10.0) and shoot length (4.4 cm). The root induction was highest (84.3%) in MS medium supplemented with IBA (0.5 mg L−1). The rooted plantlets were successfully established in field.

In vitro callus induction and shoot regeneration from leaf explant of Withania somnifera

Callus induction and shoot regeneration has been developed in three different genotypes (WA-20, WA-134 and Rajendra Ashwagandh Local - 1) of Withania somnifera using leaf explant. Out of the three genotypes, callus induction (50% – 68%) and callus mediated shoot regeneration (43% – 63%) were observed with MS media supplemented with 0.5 mg L−1 of 6 - benzyl aminopurine (BAP) with 1 mg L−1 of α - nephthalene acetic acid (NAA). Good responses of shoot regeneration (69.6%, 79.1%) were seen on WA1 and on WA2 respectively with the medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L−1 of NAA and 2 mg L−1 of BAP. The response with genotype WA3 was poor for both callus induction and shoot proliferation