Abstract
The present study deals with the mass propagation of Orthosiphon aristatus - a multipurpose highly valuable ethnomedicinal shrub. Stem and inflorescence explants were inoculated into the Murashige and Skoog medium (MS medium) fortified with different concentrations and combinations of auxins and cytokinins. The maximum number of shoots achieved was 25 ± 0.78 and 17 ± 0.67 at 5 mg/l benzylaminopurine (BAP) + 2.5 mg/l kinetin (kn) and 3mg/l BAP + 1.5mg/l Kn from nodal and inflorescence explants, respectively. For in vitro rhizogenesis, the elongated micro shoots were aseptically excised and were transferred to the half strength MS liquid medium supplemented with different concentrations of Indole-3 acetic acid and Indole butyric acid (IAA and IBA). The best rooting was achieved at 2 mg/l IBA giving maximum of 12 ± 0.67 roots per shoot. The well established plantlets were hardened by transferring them to the poly cups containing sterile soil and vermicompost in the ratio of 1:1. After 3 weeks of hardening, established plantlets were transferred to the field with 95% survivability. Key words: Stem, inflorescence, callus, multiple shoots, acclimatisation, O.aristatus.
Highlights
Genetic diversity is the foundation of sustainability as it provides raw material for evolution and survival of species and individuals especially under changed environmental and disease condition (Erikson et al, 1993)
Explants; stem and inflorescence of O.aristatus were collected from the garden and were washed under running tap water for 10 to 15 min to ensure the removal of soil and dust particles followed by 1% (w/v) bavistin treatment
Stem and inflorescence were used as explant source
Summary
Genetic diversity is the foundation of sustainability as it provides raw material for evolution and survival of species and individuals especially under changed environmental and disease condition (Erikson et al, 1993). There is growing concern about the diminishing and depletion of plant biodiversity because of the increasing demand of herbal drugs. Traditional healers and pharmaceutical industries are indiscriminately harvesting the medicinal plants to meet out demands, which have threatened their existence in the wild. O.aristatus is variably distributed and very rare in the field and the conservation of this species is needed to ensure its sustainable utilisation (Rajendran et al, 2001). Plant tissue culture techniques provide an effective tool for the conservation of medicinal plants and biodiversity conservation. The present study was taken up to standardise the protocol for the effective conservation and rapid multiplication of O.aristatus in order to meet the market demands while simultaneously minimizing the possible threat to the wild existence
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