Effect of medium, explants, cytokinins and node position on in vitro shoot multiplication of Caralluma lasiantha (Wight) N.E.Br., an endemic and medicinally important plant

Abstract

An efficient shoot multiplication protocol was developed for Caralluma lasiantha, an endemic medicinal plant belonging to the family Asclepiadaceae. Mature explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS), (1962) medium, Gamborg's B₅ (B₅) and woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA), 8.87 µM, for shoot induction. The nodal explants exhibited maximum shoot sprouting frequency when cultured on MS medium supplemented with BA (8.87 µM). Nodal explants cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of cytokinins with 3% sucrose exhibited 100% sprouting frequency. Maximum number of three to four shoots was induced from mature second nodal explants on MS medium containing BA (8.87 µM). The isolated microshoots were rooted on half strength MS medium supplemented with naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 0.54 µM. The plantlets thus developed were hardened and successfully established in soil.

Key words: 6-Benzyl adenine, nodal explant, naphthalene acetic acid, Caralluma lasiantha, micro  propagation.