In Vitro Propagation and Conservation of Medicinal Plants from Lonar Forest

Abstract

In the present study, the following eight rare, critically endangered (CR), endangered (EN), vulnerable (VU) and some are near threatened status medicinal plants are taken for the experimentation from the forest adjoining to the Lonar Lake at Lonar in Buldhana district: Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa., Holostemma adakodien Schult (Syn. H. annulare (Roxb.) K. Schum.), Limonia acidissima Linn., Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. Ex. Kurz, Santalum album L., Semecarpus anacardium L.f., Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight and Arn, and Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merr. Different types of explants viz., shoot tip and nodal segment were used for in vitro propagation. The explants were sterilized and cultured on MS medium containing different concentrations of growth regulators naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and IAA or KIN with 0.2 to 1.2 mg/L and callus formation was recorded after 45 days of incubation in dark on medium supplemented with different combinations and concentrations of PGRs in (0.2 to 1.2) mg/L of NAA, IAA, IBA and KIN. After one month of callus culture on medium supplemented with 2 mg/L BA the shoot number was 5.12 and for the multiplication stage. The shoot number was 4.21 and length was 6.17 cm on medium supplemented with 1 mg/L Kin + 0.1 mg/L NAA. Three carbon sources tested, sucrose induced a maximum number of shoots, shoot length and average number of roots per explant after 28 days of culture. The optimum pH for shoot regeneration was found at 6.8. newlineKey words: Medicinal plants, PGRs, Endangered, pH, etc newline