An Effective Protocol for In Vitro Multiplication of Celastrus paniculatus Willd. - An Important Medicinal Plant

Abstract

Celastrus paniculatus Willd. a threatened taxon belongs to the family Celastraceae is one of the important medicinal plants. The seeds contain alkaloids and the oil extracted from them has long been regarded as highly beneficial and medicinally effective. Due to its medicinal importance, the plant has been over exploited and effective measures are needed to be taken to conserve the precious germplasms. In present study, an effective protocol for micropropagation has been developed through nodal cultures. Nodal explants from mature plant were collected and cultured on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of auxins (IAA,IBA,NAA,2,4-D) and cytokinins (BAP,Kin,2-ip,Zea,TDZ) either alone and in combinations under controlled photoperiod and temperature. Maximum number of 15.43±0.17 shoots was regenerated directly from the nodal explants on MS medium supplemented with BAP+NAA+GA3. Histological studies have confirmed the direct regeneration of shoots from the cultures. Thus, obtained shoots were sub-cultured to rooting medium containing auxins for root induction. The regenerated plantlets were successfully acclimatized on mixture of organic manure, clay and sand (1:1:1) and 75% of regenerates were survived.