Plant Science Research, Vol. 37, 2015

An efficient method of in vitro propagation of Gloriosa superba L. – an endangered medicinal plant

Gloriosa superba L. is an important medicinal plant of India. It is an important source of pharmaceutical compound known as colchicine. This plant has become endangered in our country. To protect this species we adopted in vitro methodology to develop simple protocols for shoot multiplication as well as in vitro tuberization. Maximum shoots (15.67±0.34) were multiplied from tuber explants on MS medium fortified with 5.0 mg/l BAP. The elongated shoots with healthy tubers were subcultured for rooting and best response was on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l IBA. The in vitro raised plantlets were acclimatized in green house and successfully transplanted to natural condition with 75% survival rate. The regenerated plants were cytologically and phenotypically stable.