Abstract

In vitro clonal propagtion of Trichosanthes cucumerina L. var.Cucumerina L. - An important medicinal plant

Author(s): N.K.Devendra, L.Rajanna, C.Sheetal, Y.N.Seetharam

An efficient protocolwas established for in vitro shootmultiplication from shoot tip explant of Trichosanthes cucumerina L. var. cucumerina L. on semisolid Murashige and skoogÂ’s[18] basal medium supplemented with 6- benzylaminopurine (BA). Inclusion of 1- naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) in the culture mediumalong with BA promoted higher number of shoot multiplication than BA alone. The rate of shoot multiplication was maximum 12.00 ± 0.70 after 4 wk of culture on MS basal medium supplemented with BA 1.0 mg-l + NAA 0.1 mg-l. The elongated shoots rooted within 7-8 days in half strength MS basal salts supplemented 1.0 mg-l IBA and 3% (w/v) sucrose. About 90% of the rooted plantlets were acclimatized and transferred to the green house and successfully transferred to the field with 80% survival rate. The histological study shows that the organogenesis occurs directly, without callus formation on epidermal and sub epidermal layer of the explants. Adventitious shoots were characterized by the development of shoots apical meristemand leaf primordial.