Micropropagation of Enicostemma littorale Blume

Abstract

An efficient in vitro plant regeneration protocol was established as a high-frequency in vitro mass propagation system for Enicostemma littorale Blume, an important diabetic medicinal plant. Decontaminated shoot tip and nodal segments (2 cm in length) were established on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations (0.5–2.5 mg/L) of 6-benzyladenine (BA), kinetin (Kin), and thidiazuron (TDZ) alone and in combination with different concentrations (0.3–1.8 mg/L) of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The highest frequency (90%) of shoot regeneration and number of multiple shoots (179 shoots per explant) were achieved with a combination of Kin (1.5 mg/L) and NAA (0.6 mg/L). The shoot length (14.3 cm in length) was the best on the GA3 (1.2 mg/L) medium. Elongated shoots were rooted with different concentrations (0.2–1.0 mg/L) of α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) alone. The maximum number of roots (17.4 roots per shoot) with a mean root length (15.2 cm in length) was obtained with MS medium containing IBA (0.4 mg/L). Plantlets were established in vermiculite, sand, and soil (1:1:2 w/v) mixture and acclimatized successfully in plant growth chamber. The acclimatized plants were established successfully in the field during winter season (19–25 °C), and the survival rate was 90%.