In vitro co-cultivation of Piriformospora indica filtrate for improve biomass productivity in Artemisia annua(L.)

Abstract

We established in vitro augmentation of callus, organogenesis and photosynthetic pigments content in Artemisia annua using Piriformospora indica filtrate and by optimizing plant growth regulators on culture medium. In vitro raised plantlets from nodal explants showed the best shooting at MS + BAP (3 mg/l) while ½ MS + IBA (3 mg/l) was the best combination for rooting. Co-cultivation of nodal explants using P. indica was done just after root initiation. Leaf explants supplemented with MS + 2, 4 D (3 mg/l) showed the best callogenesis. Interaction of in vitro raised plantlets and callus with the fungus and the filtrate resulted in overall increase in plant biomass and chlorophyll contents. Within 15 days of inoculation, the fungus colonized with the root cortical region of the plantlet and showed an increase in growth parameters such as root (21 %) and shoot (37.2 %) length, fresh (35 %) and dry weight (3 %), and most importantly pigment contents i.e. chlorophyll a (2 %), chlorophyll b (0.3 %) and carotenoid (66 %). P. indica filtrate (1 μl/ml)-treated light green friable callus obtained from leaf explants using MS + 2,4 D (3 mg/l), showed the highest biomass within 35 days. Thus, the study demonstrated the symbiotic effect of P. indica as a biopriming agent for the overall growth of biomass in Artemisia annua.