Effect of Sucrose and Media Strength on in Vitro Multiplication in Swertia Chirata Buch.-Ham Ex Wall: An Endangered Medicinal Herb

Abstract

Objective: The present study was performed to investigate the role of varying concentrations of carbohydrate source and strengths of nutrient medium in growth and development of in vitro shoots of Swertia chirata-an endangered medicinal plant.Methods: MS medium supplemented with 6-Benzylaminopurine (4.44 µM), Indole-3 acetic acid (2.85 µM) and Adenine sulphate (271.45 µM) was used to test the efficiency of of sucrose at concentrations of 1-5% and of media strength varying from full to one-fourth. The data were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) of Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in GenStat 5 Edition 3.2 for PC/Windows NT (Copyright 1995, Lawes Agricultural Trust (Rothamsted Experimental Station))Results: Observations on axillary shoot multiplication indicated that sucrose at a concentration of 3% and MS medium in its full strength proved to be most optimal for in vitro culture multiplication. On this medium combination mean number of 11.80 shoots (after 4 w) and 18.50 shoots (after 8 w) could be obtained On sucrose free medium the shoots exhibited necrosis while at lower concentrations of 1-2% sucrose, the shoots developed were thin and unsuitable for further growth in vitro. At higher levels of sucrose in the medium, the shoots became thick and stunted. Similarly, reduction in medium strength resulted in a decline in shoot number and shoot length to an average of 6.50 shoots (1.33 cm mean length) on half strength medium and 5.60 shoots (0.88 cm mean length) on one-fourth strength; as observed after 4 w.Conclusion: The experimental findings suggest that any decline from the standard had a significant effect on the number, size and overall health of shoots developed in vitro. The conditions so standardized augment the production of healthy shoots that shall aid in subsequent rooting and survival after transplantation of tissue-culture raised plantlets.