In vitro Conservation Approach of Rare Medicinal Plant Ceropegia juncea Roxb. (Asclepiadaceae)

M. N. Abubacker¹* and G. Dheepan²

¹Department of Biotechnology, National College, Tiruchirappalli - 620 001, India.

²Department of Botany, National College, Tiruchirappalli - 620 001, India.

ABSTRACT: In vitro conservation protocol for rare medicinal plant Ceropegia juncea was developed using nodal explants by culturing on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The maximum number of greenish nodular callus was induced in MS + 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) 1.5 mg/l + 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) 1.5 mg/l and massive callus induction was in MS + Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) 1.0 mg/l + BAP 1.0 mg/l + 2,4-D 0.5 mg/l. The greenish nodular calli were raised on the MS medium supplemented with BAP 3.0 mg/l + kinetine (Kin) 0.5 mg/l + Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) 0.5 mg/l + Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) 0.5 mg/l for shoot induction. Root induction was achieved in MS + Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) 0.5 mg/l + NAA 0.5 mg/l + IBA 0.5 mg/l + BAP 1.0 mg/l. The plantlets were established, acclimatized and thrived in greenhouse and then in natural environmental condition. The in vitro conservation protocol developed in this study provides a basis for germplasm conservation of this medicinal plant.

KEYWORDS: Callus; Ceropegia juncea; in vitro conservation; MS medium

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