In vitro mass multiplication of Ophiorrhiza mungo Linn.

A protocol for in vitro mass multiplication of plants through seedling (shoot) cultures was established for Ophiorrhiza mungo. Maximum number of adventitious shoots per shoot culture (10.4 +/- 1.72) was initiated on MS solid medium supplemented with BAP (2.22 microM) after 3 weeks. Shoots were further multiplied (12.8 +/- 2.8) through subculture of intact shoots and reculture of nodal segments of aseptic shoots (6.5 +/- 0.94) in MS solid medium containing BAP (0.89 microM). Shoot elongation (1.27 +/- 0.12 cm) was achieved in the medium containing GA3 (1.44 microM) in two weeks. Rooting was favoured in basal agar medium supplemented with IBA (12.3 microM) plus NAA (1.07 microM). The plants were successfully established (100%) in the pots containing sand and top soil (1:1) mixture in a period of two weeks.

In vitro multiplication of Nothapodites foetida (Wight.) Sleumer through seedling explant cultures.

In vitro multiplication of Nothapodites foetida (Wight.) Sleumer was achieved using axenic seedling explant cultures. Isolated nodes (1.0-1.2 cm) and shoot tips (1.0-1.5 cm) cultured in Murashige and Skoog's agar medium containing varying concentrations of TDZ, BA and combinations of 2iP and GA3. Single shoot (0.8-1.2 cm) was regenerated in each culture after 6 weeks. Axillary shoots were then excised and recultured for 8 weeks in medium containing TDZ (0.05 mgL-1) which formed shoots (about 4 in no.; 2 cm) from the basal node. Axillary branches (2) which formed on 60% of these shoots after 10-12 weeks of culture were separated and recultured in the same medium for 8 weeks. Three shoots (0.8-1.0 cm) per culture were regenerated. Shoots of 0.8-1.8 cm length were subcultured on a low cytokinin (0.01 mgL-1 TDZ) regime to induce shoot elongation (2.0-3.5 cm) in 4 weeks. Shoot cuttings were rooted (60%) in the medium containing IBA (1.5 mgL-1). Rooted plantlets established in pots (90%) after hardening resumed normal growth in 3 months.