PLANT CELL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

The present study was aimed to develop an efficient in vitro regeneration protocol for callus induction and shoot regeneration from Baliospermum montanum. The leaf explants were inoculated on MS medium fortified with different concentration and combination of auxins (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, 1-naphthalene acetic acid, indol-3-butyric acid and indol-3-acetic acid) and cytokinins (6-benzylaminopurine, 6-furfuryl aminopurine and zeatin) for callus induction, nodal and shoot tip explants for shoot regeneration. The maximum callus induction was observed on media supplemented with BAP (2.0 mg/L), 2, 4-D (2.0 mg/L) and KIN (5.0 mg/L) from leaf explant. However, combination of 2, 4-D (0.5 mg/L) + BAP (4.0 mg/L) and NAA (0.5 mg/L) + BAP (1.0 mg/L) recorded higher callus induction. Whereas, in the combination of cytokinins such as KIN (0.5 mg/L) + BAP (3.0 mg/L) and BAP (0.5 mg/L) + KIN (2.0 mg/L) showed greater callus induction compared to other concentrations. Shoot regeneration was higher from shoot tip and nodal explants on medium supplemented with BAP (1.0 & 2.0 mg/L) + GA₃ (2 & 3 mg/L). Maximum root induction was noticed on half strength MS medium fortified with NAA (0.2 and 0.5 mg/L). The regenerated shoots with well-developed roots were successfully subjected to hardening process and were acclimatized.

Our results demonstrated that leaf explants were good source for callus induction and the nodal explants for shoot regeneration. Further studies have to be carried out to isolate the major bioactive compounds from B. montanum.