Plant Science Research, Vol. 38, 2016

Effect of plant growth regulators and explant types on micropropagation of an endangered medicinal plant Blepharispermum subsessile DC.

A reproducible protocol for in vitro plant regeneration of an endangered medicinal plant  Blepharispermum subsessile was developed. The protocols were developed for establishment  of secondary culture from shoot tips and nodal segments. They were cultured on MS medium  supplemented with different concentration of BAP and Kn either alone or in combination with  GA3, IAA, IBA and NAA. Of the different cytokinin evaluated, bud break with multiple shoot  proliferation in nodal segment and shoot tip explants was best achieved in MS medium  supplemented with 1.5 and 2.5 mg/l BAP respectively. Percentage shoot development and the  number of shoots per shoot tip was maximum in MS augmented with 1.5 mg/l BAP + 0.2 mg/  l IAA, where ca. 91% cultures produced 6 shoots/explant with an average length of 2.43 cm  over a period of 4 weeks. The maximum rooting regeneration was observed in ½ MS + 2%  sucrose + 1.0 mg/l IAA, with a average 5.83 roots per regenerated shoots. Well rooted plants  showed 39% survival during hardening under green house condition.