In vitro regeneration from nodal explants of Kedrostis foetidissima - A medicinal climber

Abstract

Kedrostis foetidissima is an important medicinal climber belonging to the family cucurbitaceae. It is widely used in folklore and traditional systems of medicine for various disorders like seborrheic dermatitis, measles, diarrhea, urinary tract infections and asthma. The availability of plant decreased in its natural habitats due to high medicinal value and over usage. To enhance plant multiplication of this plant an efficient in vitro regeneration protocol was established using nodal explants through direct regeneration. MS medium amended with BAP, TDZ (0.5-2.5 mg/l) alone and together with IAA/NAA (0.2-1.0 mg/l) were used. Of these BAP (2.0 mg/l) induced the highest percentage response (73%) with 17.2 ± 0.24 mean number of shoots per explant after the first subculture. The shootlets were rooted on half strength MS medium augmented with IBA (1.0 mg/l) with an average of 16.3 ± 0.47 roots per shoot and mean root length (cm) is 1.31±0.07 after four weeks of culture. The regenerated plantlets were hardened in polycups, then acclimatized in greenhouse and transferred to the field with 68% survival rate.