Highly Efficient <i>in Vitro</i> Regeneration Method of Endangered Medicinal Plant <i>Heliotropium kotschyi</i> (Ramram) in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Abstract

Heliotropium kotschyi (Ramram), is a very important plant in relation to environment protection and for its medicinal value in Bahrain. It has been detected as one of the endangered plants in Bahrain. Ex situ conservation of this plant applying tissue culture method was used in the present study. In vitro plant regeneration has been established via shoot organogenesis using nodal meristems. The effect of various plant growth regulators was evaluated to regenerate the whole plants by in vitro micropropagation in modified MS media supplemented with different plant growth regulators (PGRs). In vitro regeneration of plants was involved in three steps by shoot initiation, multiplication and rooting of microshoots. Initially 100% explants of Heliotropium kotschyi responded to initiate shoot in MS medium supplemented with 8.88 µM BAP with 5.71 µM IAA after 4 weeks of culture. Multiplication of shoots and ultimate plant regeneration capacity of Heliotropium kotschyi were compared and the highest performance of 578 shoots/explant was observed in presence of 8.88 µM BAP and 5.71 µM IAA after second transfer. Rooted plantlets were transferred to soil pots and 60% plants were survived after one and a half months. The highly efficient plant regeneration protocol of the desert plant is of great value in rapid plant propagation program for the purpose of conservation of biodiversity.

Somatic Embryogenesis and Organogenesis for Regeneration of Endangered Multipurpose Desert Plant <i>Leptadenia pyrotechnica</i> Forsk. Decne in the Kingdom of Bahrain

“…The rooted plants were transferred to soil pots and the pots were kept in small transparent covered chamber to assist good growth under moist condition (Figure 4(i)). Similarly, in Heliotropium kotschyi (Ramram), the highest frequency of shoot regeneration was observed in modified MS media supplemeted with 8.88 µM BAP and 5.71 IAA [43]. The highest plant regeneration capacity (2000 -3000 plant/shoot) of Salvia Africana-lutea L. was observed in presence of high concentration of BAP than IAA (20 or 4:1) after long subculture [34].…”