Plant Regeneration Studies in Safed Musli (Chlorophytum Sp.)

Abstract

An efficient protocol was developed for the rapid in vitro multiplication of an endangered medicinal herb, Chlorophytum borivilianum (safed musli); by using Basal/crown plate explants. The effects of phytohormones [6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (KN), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA)] on in vitro regeneration were investigated. The highest number of shoots (21.67), maximum shoot length (13.14 cm) and the highest response of shoot induction (85 %) were recorded on MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/l BAP and 2.0 mg/l KIN. Rooting was best achieved on half-strength MS medium augmented without plant growth regulators IBA and sucrose (3 %, w/v). The plantlets regenerated in vitro with well-developed shoot and roots were successfully established in pots containing sterile sand and coco peat (1:1) and grown in a greenhouse with 85 % survival rate. The regenerated plants did not show any detectable morphological variation. The developed method can be successfully employed for large-scale multiplication and conservation of C. borivilianum.