Abstract

Clonal propagation of Mentha arvensis L. through shoot tip and nodal explants

Author(s): E.G.Wesely, M.Johnson, M.S.Kavitha, N.Selvan

The present study was aimed to produce an efficient direct micropropagation system forMentha arvensis Linn. a medicinally important plant using shoot tip and nodal segments as explants. Adventitious proliferation was obtained fromMentha arvensis shoot tip and nodal segments inoculated on Murashige and SkoogÂ’s basal medium with 3% sucrose and augmented with 6 - BenzylAmino Purine and Kinetin. Highest frequency of shoot proliferation (shoot tip 96.2 ± 0.84 and Nodal segments 94.6 ± 0.63) was observed in Murashige and SkoogÂ’s medium augmented with 1.5mg/l of 6-BenzylAmino Purine.After 8 weeks, maximumnumber (81.6 ± 0.96) of multiple shoots was obtained in shoot tip cultured on MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/l BAP in combination with 1.5mg/l of Kin.After 8 weeks, nodal explants cultured onMSmediumsupplemented with 0.5mg/l BAP in combinationwith 1.5mg/lKin showedmaximumnumber (72.3 ± 1.21) of shootlets per explants. Half strength Murashige and SkoogÂ’s medium with 3% sucrose augmented with 1.5 mg/l of Indole 3- ButyricAcid showed the maximumfrequency (95.2 ± 1.24) and maximum number (8.4 ± 0.7) of rootlets per shoot lets. The micropropagated plantlets genetic uniformity was confirmed through the isozyme analysis. The in vitro raised plants were hardened then transferred to field for re-establishment.