Adventitious root formation in branch cuttings of Taxus wallichiana Zucc.(Himalayan yew): A clonal approach to conserve the scarce resource

Abstract

Himalayan yew (<em>Taxus wallichiana</em> Zucc.), is an economically valuable plant and critically endangered due to overexploitation for the isolation of Taxol,an exciting anticancer drug from its bark and leaves. Since the species is unisexual and due to its long seed dormancy period and rapid loss of viability coupled with low survival percentage, its natural regeneration from seeds is very poor. As the seed raised plants add little growth, propagation by stem cuttings was tried under natural conditions and a considerable success was achieved after making use of different auxins (Indole-3- Acetic Acid-IAA, Indole Butyric Acid-IBA and Naphthalene Acetic Acid-NAA) in different concentrations. A Randomized block design (RBD) was adopted for laying the experiment of the present study. Of the ten treatments studied, IBA at 500ppm performed best of all the treatments and registered higher callusing percentage, rooting percentage, number of roots and length of roots in the juvenile shoot cuttings of the species. The results achieved through the application ofplant growth regulators (PGRs)by way of adventitious root formation (ARF) could be useful for the management of this understory coniferous tree species, whether for conservation, habitat restoration or for the production of Taxol,a promising anti-cancer agent. The technique evolved will be the most handy, quickest, inexpensive and can be applied any where in its natural habitat for the restoration and restocking of this valuable plant, which is otherwise facing the peril of extinction throughout the range of its distribution including Indian Himalayas.

Ethnobotanical and pharmacological importance of Taxus wallichiana Zucc.

“…Another study reported regeneration of T. wallichiana plant via shoot organogenesis from callus cultures derived from zygotic embryos (120). Apart from tissue culture techniques, stem cuttings treated with growth promoting substances have also been proved effective for propagation of the plant (121). Another recent study reported that treatment of shoot cuttings of the plant with indole acetic acid (IAA), indole butyric acid (IBA) and napthoxy acetic acid (NAA) resulted in effective initiation of roots (122).…”

Purification and characterization of Taxol and 10‐Deacetyl baccatin III from the bark, needles, and endophytes of Taxus baccata by preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography, ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance

“…It is a dioecious, evergreen tree found in the temperate Himalayas at altitudes between 1800 and 3300 m [2]. It is a slow‐growing, medium‐sized conifer that attains a height of about 30 m. It has horizontal branches and leaves are flat, dark green, and arranged spirally on the stem [3]. It has high medicinal value and ethnobotanical importance [4].…”