A protocol was established for mass propagation of the valuable medicinal plant Ficus religiosa L. (Moraceae) through in vitro culture using apical and axillary buds of young sprouts from selected plants. Best shoot induction was observed on MS basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l BAP + 0.1 mg/l IAA, in which 78 per cent of the explants produced 16 shoots per culture. Repeated subcultures in the same medium, resulted rapid shoot multiplication with 24 shoots per culture. In vitro raised shoots rooted on half strength MS supplemented with 2.0 mg/l IBA + 0.1 mg/l NAA. For acclimatization and transplantation, the plantlets in the rooting culture tubes were kept in normal room temperature for seven days before transplanting in pots where plantlets were reared for three weeks. The survival rate of regenerated plantlets was 85 per cent.

A protocol was developed for in vitro clonal propagation of Rauvolfia serpentina through direct regeneration from shoot tip explants. Multiple shoots (eight shoots per explant) induction were obtained on MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/l BAP and 0.5 mg/l NAA within 10-15 days. The elongated shoots rooted well in half strength MS medium with 0.5 mg/l NAA. The in vitro raised plantlets were acclimatized in glass house and successfully transplanted to field condition with 80 % survival. The results indicated that large scale commercial micropropagation of Rauvolfia serpentina is technically feasible. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 42(1), 37-44, 2007

Introduction:Early blight is a common disease of tomato, which is caused by Alternaria solani. Objectives:This work was accompanied to find an alternative to chemical fungicides and to screen tomato varieties against Alternaria solani. Methods:The infected leaves were collected from five tomato fields of Shere-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka and were cultured for the identification of the infectious fungus and The phytobiocidal role of six plants against Alternaria solani was evaluated in vitro model. Results & Discussion:Alternaria solani was identified as the infectious fungus. The growth of the test fungi Trichoderma spp. viz., Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum collected form NAMDEC and Trichoderma sp collected from field of BCSIR was monitored as optimum P H . All the selected Trichoderma spp. were antagonistic to A. solani. Antagonistic capacity of the Trichoderma spp. was tested by dual culture, volatile as well as non-volatile method. It was observed, T. viride was most effective in the reduction process of A. solani and T. harzianum. T. viride also showed highest inhibition in volatile and non-volatile trials. Six plant extracts viz., Adhatoda vasica (Nees), Azadirachta indica (A Juss). Ocimujm sanctum (L), Allium sativum (L), Datura metal (Linn) and Zingiber officinale (Rose) were selected to evaluate their in vitro efficacy of 5%, 10% and 20% concentration against the A. solani. Allium sativum was the most effective one against A. solani, followed by Azadirachta indica. The efficacy of five fungicides viz., Bavistin 50WP, Mancozeb 80WP, Indofil M-45, Sulcox 50WP and Tall 25EC were evaluated for their fungitoxicity against the A. solani at 100, 200,100, 600 and 800 ppm. Tall 25EC was the most effective fungicide against Alternaria solani followed by Mancozeb 80WP. After screening the five tomato varieties against A. solani, it was revealed that BARI Tomato-9 had the highest Percentage of Disease Index (PDI) and the leaf of BARI Tomato-7 had the lowest Percentage of Disease Index (PDI). Conclusion:The extract of Allium sativum was effective to control Alternaria solani at prescribed concentration. The highest PDI was found in BARI tomato-9 against Alternaria solani.

An efficient protocol was established for in vitro mass propagation of a valuable medicinal shrubby plant, Mimosa pudica Linn., from shoot tip and nodal explants. Optimum in vitro shoot induction was observed from nodal explants on MS basal medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l NAA, in which 88.2% of the explants produced 9 shoots per culture within 3-4 weeks. Repeated subcultures in the same medium, resulted rapid shoot multiplication with 20.4 ± 1.20 shoots per culture within 12 weeks. The healthy in vitro raised shoots rooted on half strength MS medium with 0.5 mg/l IBA. For acclimatization and transplantation, the plantlets in the rooting culture tubes were kept in normal room temperature for 7 days before transplanting in pots where plantlets were reared for three weeks. The survival rate of regenerated plantlets was 80%. Key words: Mimosa pudica; Medicinal plant; Shoot proliferation; In vitro mass propagation; Acclimatization DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v45i2.5704Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 45(2), 95-100, 2010

An efficient protocol was established for rapid and large scale propagation of woody aromatic medicinal plant Vitex negundo L. by in vitro shoot multiplication from shoot tips and nodal segments of mature plant. Of the four different growth regulators BA, Kn, GA 3 , NAA and coconut water, MS fortified with BA 1.0 mg/l was found to be the most effective for inducing multiple shoots from nodal explants. The percentage (96%) of shoot multiplication per node (21.83) was highest up to second subculture passages, after which there was a gradual decline in shoot development. Best rooting was induced (93%) in excised shoots on half strength MS medium supplemented with an optimal combination of NAA (0.3 mg/l). Soil, compost and sand (1:1:1) mixture was the most suitable planting substrate for hardening. The survival rate was 80% and the regenerated plants were successfully transferred to the soil.