ANNOUNCEMENTS
Asparagus racemosus and Crataeva magna remain species with tremendous potential and although considerable work has been done to exploit the biological activity and medicinal applications of these plants, countless possibilities for investigation still remain in relatively newer areas of its function. The multiple uses of both A. racemosus and C. magna have resulted in their incessant exploitation from the wild and as a result their populations are depleting at an alarming pace. Erratic seed germination combined with destructive harvesting and habitat destruction in the form of deforestation has added to the magnitude of the problem.
In the present study, we have established efficient protocols for the in vitro propagation of clonally uniform plants of A. racemosus and C. magna through axillary branching method. High multiplication rate and field survival would help in meeting the increasing demand for disease free, true-to-type superior quality plant material and this in turn would contribute to their conservation.
In vitro shoot proliferation of A. racemosus was obtained by culturing single node segments in MS medium supplemented with 3.69µM 2ip and 3% sucrose. For proper root formation, the in vitro formed shoot clusters were cultured on MS 1/2 medium with 1.61µM NAA, o.46 µM Kn, 98.91µM AdSO4, 5oo mg/l ME, 198.25µM PG and 3% sucrose. On this medium, 85% rooting was observed within 20 days. Following a simple hardening procedure involving sequential transfer of plants to a greenhouse, polyhouse, and shade net, the tissue-cultured plants were transferred to the field where the survival rate was 1oo%. Shoot multiplication of C. magna was accomplished by culturing single node segments derived from a field grown tree on MS medium supplemented with 2.66µM BAP, 1.39µM Kn, o.57µM IAA, 3% sucrose and o.2% gelrite. 96% rooting was achieved within 22 days by culturing the in vitro formed shoots on MS 1/2 medium with 11.42µM IAA, 9.8µM IBA, o.46µM Kn and 198.25µM PG. Following a hardening procedure similar to that of A. racemosus, the tissue-cultured plants were transferred to the field where the survival rate was 1oo%. To this date more than 5oo plants of both A. racemosus and C. magna have been produced. Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) analysis has confirmed genetic uniformity of the tissue-cultured plants of A. racemosus and C. magna vis-à-vis the mother plants. In addition, the presence of lupeol has been demonstrated in C. magna plantlets at in vitro culture stage, after transplantation to field and in callus cultures.
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