In vitro propagation and ex vitro rooting of Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult.: a rare medicinal plant

Abstract

The present study describes an improved and reproducible in vitro regeneration system for Aerva lanata using nodal segment explants obtained from a mature 2 years old plant. Direct organogenesis of shoots from nodal segments was achieved by culturing on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.5 mg l−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). On this media combination, 8.7 ± 0.21 shoots per explant were induced. Shoots multiplication was extensively influenced by the type and the concentrations of plant growth regulators used, repeated transfer of mother explants and the sub-culturing of in vitro regenerated shoot clumps on fresh medium. Maximum numbers of shoots (49.39 ± 1.24) was observed on MS medium augmented with 1.0 mg l−1 BAP and 0.2 mg l−1 α-naphthalene acetic acid. Full, half and one-fourth strength of MS medium with different concentrations of auxins was tested for in vitro root formation. One fourth strength MS medium with 2.0 mg l−1 indole-3 butyric acid (IBA) was optimum for in vitro root induction (36.9 ± 0.72 roots per shoot). Experiments on ex vitro rooting were conducted to shorten the regeneration pathway and observed highest percentage (100 %) of rooting from the cut ends of the shoots with 200 mg l−1 IBA. About 12.6 ± 0.30 roots were induced from the shoots using this method. The well rooted plantlets were acclimatized successfully in Soilrite under the greenhouse conditions with 92 % survival rate.