A micropropagation system for Lam. was developed involving axillary shoot proliferation and ex vitro rooting using nodal explants obtained from mature tree. MS medium with 3.0 mg l BA (6-benzyladenine) was optimum for shoot bud induction. For shoot multiplication, mother explants were transferred repeatedly on medium containing low concentration of BA (0.75 mg l). Number of shoots was increased up to two passages and decreased thereafter. Shoot multiplication was further enhanced on MS medium containing 0.25 mg l each of BA and Kin (Kinetin) with 0.1 mg l of NAA (α-naphthalene acetic acid). Addition of 0.004 mg l TDZ (thidiazuron) increased the rate of shoot multiplication and 21.81 ± 1.26 shoots per culture vessel were obtained. In vitro regenerated shoots were rooted under ex vitro conditions treated with 400 mg l IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) for 7 min on sterile soilrite. After successful hardening in greenhouse, ex vitro rooted plants were transferred to the field conditions with ≈85% of survival rate. Micromorphological changes were observed on leaf surface i.e. development of vein density and trichomes and stomatal appearance, when plants were subjected to environmental conditions. This is the first report on in vitro regeneration of from mature tree.

Two gene targeted markers i.e. CAAT boxderived polymorphism (CBDP) and start codon targeted (SCoT) polymorphism were applied to analyze the genetic stability of in vitro propagated plants of Bauhinia racemosa Lam. multiplied by enhanced axillary shoot proliferation of mature tree derived nodal explant. Nine randomly selected micropropagated plants of 1 year age were subjected to molecular analysis. The isolated genomic DNA samples were subjected to PCR amplification with a total of 61 primers (25 CBDP and 36 SCoT) out of which 39 primers (21 CBDP and 18 SCoT) produced scorable amplicons. A total of 97 and 88 clear, distinct and reproducible amplicons were produced by CBDP and SCoT primers, respectively. The monomorphic banding pattern obtained through all the tested primers corroborated the true to type nature of in vitro propagated plants of B. racemosa.

The present study explores the potential of aeroponic system for clonal propagation of Caralluma edulis (Paimpa) a rare, threatened and endemic edible species, Leptadenia reticulata (Jeewanti), a threatened liana used as promoter of health and Tylophora indica (Burm.f.) Merill, a valuable medicinal climber. Experiments were conducted to asses the effect of exogenous auxin (naphthalene acetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid, indole-3-acetic acid) and auxin concentrations (0.0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5gl IBA for 5 min. Presence of at least two leaves on the nodal cuttings of L. reticulata and T. indica was found to be a prerequisite for root induction. In all the species, the number of adventitious roots per cutting and the percentage of cuttings rooted aeroponically were significantly higher than the soil grown stem cuttings. Shoot growth measured in terms of shoot length was significantly higher in cuttings rooted aeroponically as compared to the cuttings rooted under soil conditions. All the plants sprouted and rooted aeroponically survived on transfer to soil. This is the first report of clonal propagation in an aeroponic system for these plants. This study suggests aeroponics as an economic method for rapid root induction and clonal propagation of these three endangered and medicinally important plants which require focused efforts on conservation and sustainable utilization.

Nodal segments, obtained from 12 years-old mature plant, were used as explants for in vitro propagation of Celastrus paniculatus, an important medicinal plant of India. Shoot multiplication was achieved by repeated transfer of mother explants and subculturing of in vitro produced shoot clumps on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of BAP alone or in combination with auxin (IAA or NAA). In vitro raised shoots were rooted under ex vitro condition. Genetic fidelity of the regenerated plants was assessed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD).

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