A suitable vegetative propagation technique for effective fruiting and conservation of a vulnerable medicinal plant, Paris polyphylla smit

Abstract

Paris polyphylla belongs to the family of Melanthiaceae. The herb has many medicinal properties like anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal bioactivities. This has led to an unsustainable collection of rhizomes from the wild and pushed the herb to the edge of vulnerability. Therefore, innovative and efficient propagation both in vivo and in vitro is urgent for conservation. The paper illustrates an effective and simple method of sprouting and fruiting formation for conservation of this species through vegetative propagation using various plant growth hormones such as indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), combination of BAP and NAA at different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150 mg/l), propagation in the wild, and in the polyhouse using decayed wood, black soil and sand in the ratio 2: 2: 1. Results of the combination of 100 mg/l BAP and 100 mg/l NAA showed the highest percentage of sprouting (93.33%) and fruiting (53.33%). The cultivation in the polyhouse demonstrated a significant percentage of sprouting (93.46%) and fruiting of this species (83.56%).