Abstract

An efficient protocol was described for the rapid in vitro multiplication of an endangered medicinal plant, Caralluma bhupenderiana Sarkaria, via enhanced axillary bud proliferation from nodal explants collected from young shoots of six-months-old plant.  The physiological effects of growth regulators [6-Benzyladenine (BA), kinetin (Kn), 2-Isopentyl adenine (2iP), zeatin (Zn), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)], different strengths of Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and various pH levels on in vitro morphogenesis were investigated. The highest number (8.40 + 0.50) of shoots and the maximum average shoot length (3.2 ± 0.31 cm) were recorded on MS medium supplemented with BA (8.87 µM) at pH 5.8. Rooting was best achieved on half-strength MS medium augmented with NAA (2.69 µM). The plantlets regenerated in vitro with well-developed shoot and roots were successfully established in pots containing peat mass and garden manure in 1:1 ratio and grown in a greenhouse with 80% survival rate. The regenerated plants did not show any immediate detectable phenotypic variation. 

Key words: Apocynaceae, asclepiadoideae, conservation, micro-propagation, endangered, Caralluma bhupenderiana.

Abbreviation

AA, Ascorbic acid; BA, 6-benzylominopurine; IAA, indole-3- acetic acid; IBA, indole-3-butyric acid; Kn, kinetin; MS, Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium; NAA, α- naphthalene acetic acid; 2-iP, 2-isopentenyladenine.