In vitro callus induction and plantlet regeneration of Achyranthes aspera L., a high value medicinal plant

ABSTRACT

Objective:To study callus induction from different explants (internode, leaf, root) and in vitro plantlets propagation from medicinally important plant Achyranthes aspera L. Methods:Sterilized explants were prepared by using 0.1%HgCl2 and 0.5%Bavistin and callus was obtained when cultured onto Murashige Skoog’s (MS) medium by using different concentrations and combination of 2,4-D, NAA, BAP, IAA, IBA with 3%sucrose and 0.8%agar. Induced callus was immediately transferred to MS medium containing at different concentrations of phytohormones for shootlets and rootlets induction respectively. Results:Sterilization treatment of 0.1%HgCl2 for 2-3 min and Bavistin 0.5%for 10-12 min showed the highest percentage of asepsis and survival rate. Maximum induction of callus was obtained from a combination of 2.0 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/L NAA from leaf. Highest shootlets number (4.83±0.17) and length (3.8±0.16) cm were observed on full strength MS medium when fortified with BAP 4.0 mg/L and KIN 0.5 mg/L. Concerted efforts of BAP 2.0 mg/L and NAA 0.5 mg/L on full strength MS medium showed highest leaf number (6.77±0.94). In vitro raised shoots were allowed to root on different strengths of MS medium fortified with IAA and IBA at different concentrations. Experimentally, 3.0 mg/L IBA was enabled to induce maximum rootlets number (10.0±9.82) on full strength MS medium. Afterwards, regenerated shoots with well developed roots were successfully subjected to hardening process and were acclimatized. The survived plantlets showed 66.67%survival frequency without any morphological abnormality. Conclusions: The results demonstrated that different explants were good source of callus induction, morphology analysis as well as indirect plantlets regeneration.