In vitro large scale clonal propagation of Achyranthes aspera L.: A high value medicinal plant

Abstract

Achyranthes aspera is an important medicinal plant widely used in indigenous systems of medicine for the treatment of a variety of diseases and disorders. Efficient and reproducible protocols were established for in vitro clonal propagation of A. aspera through axillary shoot proliferation from nodal segments and de novo adventitious shoot formation directly from the leaf and stem explants. Multiple shoot proliferation from nodal segments was achieved on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of cytokinins like benzyl aminopurine and kinetin and the best results were achieved on MS medium supplemented with 8.88 μM benzyl aminopurine where 15-16 shoots were initiated after 5-6 weeks. The present material exhibited a high propensity of de novo adventitious root and shoot formation directly from the leaf and stem segments without the intervening callus phase. Direct regeneration of shoots was observed on MS medium supplemented with naphthlene acetic acid (10.74-21.48 μM) alone or in conjunction with benzyl aminopurine or kinetin producing 18-20 shoots. The regenerated shoots were rooted on basal MS medium and the plantlets were successfully acclimatized and established in the field with 80% survival.