TISSUE CULTURE STUDY FOR EFFICIENT CALLUS INDUCTION FROM INTERNODAL EXPLANTS OF Asparagus racemosus WILLD AN IMPORTANT MEDICINAL HERB

Abstract

Tissue culture study was performed to standardize the technique and select suitable plant growth regulators and their concentrations for efficient callus induction from the nodal explants of Asparagus racemosus willd, an important medicinal herb. Different concentrations of NAA, 2,4-D, BAP and KN were supplemented in MS basal medium in which the nodal explants were inoculated. It was observed that MS + 0.2 mg/l NAA was the best culture condition in which maximum percentage of response 90.36 was obtained. This was followed by the culture conditions that were MS+ 2.0 mg/l where the percentage response was 88.68%. Similarly, next higher percentage 88.62 was observed in MS+1.0 mg/l BAP + 1.0 mg/l NAA. It was further observed that growth rate was excellent where the percentage response was higher. Second it was noted that the calli had both compact and friable texture and their colour varied from green yellow to brown even where the growth was excellent. It was further noted that NAA or BAP had no response for callusing when used alone. However, KN at higher concentration 2.0 mg/l gave the highest percentage of response for callusing. NAA + BAP and NAA + KN at the similar concentrations gave different result. In the MS medium having 1.0 mg/l BAP + 1.0 mg/l NAA the percentage of response was 88.62 while MS + 1.0 mg/l KN + 1.0 mg/l NAA the percentage of response was 62.34 only. Growth rate of the calli also differed in different culture conditions.