A plant regeneration protocol via multiple-shoot induction using leaf explants from field-grown mature plants of Scoparia dulcis L. (Scrophulariaceae), an ethnomedicinal plant, was established. Explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP, 13.2, 17.6 and 22.2 μM) in combination with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA, 0.5 and 2.8 μM) or napthalene-3-acetic acid (NAA, 0.5 and 2.6 μM). The maximum number of shoots (14.0 ± 1.14) with longest shoot length (2.97 ± 0.18) were obtained directly (without an intervening callus phase) from the leaf explants using a combination of BAP (22.2 μM) and IAA (0.5 μM). BAP used in combination with NAA produced fewer shoots per explant as compared with the use of IAA and the regeneration was mediated by callus formation. For root induction, the elongated shoots were separated and transferred onto MS medium supplemented with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA, 4.9 μM). Rooted Aileni et al. 201plantlets (90%) were successfully transferred to soil in the greenhouse with a 75% survival rate.

The antifungal activity of aqueous extracts of nine plants viz, Azadirachta indica, Parthenium hysterophorus, Momordica charantia, Allium sativum, Eucalyptus globules, Calotropis procera, Aloe vera, Beta vulgaris and Datura stramonium were assessed in vitro against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae, Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina, the soil borne phytopathogens. The assessment of fungitoxic effect was carried out by using three different concentrations i.e., 5, 10 and 20% against the test fungi, in terms of percentage of mycelial growth inhibition. The extract of A. sativum completely inhibited the mycelial growth of M. phaseolina at all the concentrations. The extracts of D. stramonium and E. globulus inhibited the mycelial growth of R. solani of 72%, and 70.7% respectively at 20% concentration, that of A. sativum, E. globulus and D. stramonium exhibited inhibition percentage of 63.3%, 61.8% and 61.1% respectively at 20% concentration on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae. The application of plant extracts for disease management could be less expensive, easily available, non-polluting and eco-friendly.

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Attempts have been made to establish protocol for in vitro propagation of Momordica tuberosa (Cogn) Roxb. using nodal segments and shoot apices obtained from field-grown mature plants. In vitro regeneration was achieved from nodal explants on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine at 2. 22, 4.40, 6.62, and 8.90 mM and kinetin at 2.32, 4.60, 6.92, and 9.30 mM either alone or in combination (BA + Kn). Within the ranges evaluated, the regeneration medium containing 4.40 mM BA combined with 4.60 mM Kn showed highest regeneration efficiency, with 9.0 ± 0.49 shoots per explant. Such in vitro regenerated shoots attained a maximum length of 10.0 ± 0.47 cm. The regeneration medium containing BA + Kn was used to subculture regenerated shoots at 4-week intervals. BA at 13.30 mM induced regeneration from shoot apex cultures, and 75% of explants showed regeneration efficiency with 7.8 ± 0.66 cm as the mean length of shoot. Such shoots could be subcultured on medium containing BA. Microshoots were rooted onto MS medium supplemented with 4.90 mM indole-3-butyric acid. Regenerated plants were established in the greenhouse with 90% survival rate. The protocol is simple, rapid, and efficient for in vitro propagation of nodal explants and shoot apices of M. tuberosa.

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