Abstract
An efficient micropropagation protocol was developed for the medicinal plant Launaea cornuta using green house axillary buds as explants. The best sterility was obtained at 30% (v/v) local bleach (JIK). Maximum shoot induction rate was achieved when axillary buds were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) Media supplemented with 0.5 mg/L of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) for 3 weeks. The highest number of shoot multiplication was obtained when induced shoots were culture on MS media supplemented with 0.5 mg/L BAP and 0.2 mg/L NAA for 30 days. The best rooting response with regard to average root length, rooting percentage and number of roots was achieved within 4 weeks of culture of excised shoots on MS media having 0.5 mg/L BAP. Regenerated plants were successfully acclimatized and about 80 to 90% of plantlets survived under ex vitro conditions. About 170 plants were produced from a single nodal bud of L. cornuta after 60 days. A reproducible protocol was established for in vitro propagation of L. cornuta, an important indigenous vegetable with high medicinal value. Key words: Launaea cornuta, tissue culture, micropropagation, axillary buds, tissue culture.
Highlights
Launaea cornuta commonly known as bitter lettuce or “mchunga” is a wild vegetable belonging in the family Asteraceae
Maximum shoot induction rate was achieved when axillary buds were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) Media supplemented with 0.5 mg/L of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) for 3 weeks
Establishment of tissue culture for L. cornuta has not been reported. It is not clear how the hollow stem sections of L. cornuta would respond to surface sterilization
Summary
Launaea cornuta commonly known as bitter lettuce or “mchunga” is a wild vegetable belonging in the family Asteraceae. It is indigenous to Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zimbabwe where it is mainly used as a vegetable (Jeffrey, 1966; Schippers, 2002), fodder for rabbits and sheep and to increase milk yield in cows (Burkill, 1985). It is rich in nutrients such as proteins, fat, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron and ascorbic acid (Ndossi and Sreeramulu, 1991). Development of a micropropagation protocol for L. cornuta can help to promote its cultivation and domestication which is currently limited to the coast of Kenya and countries bordered by the coast line (Abukutsa, 2007). A micropropagation protocol is essential for rapid multiplication, utilization and conservation of L. cornuta
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
