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Background Sophora mollis Royle (family Fabaceae, subfamily-Papilionaceae) is a multipurpose legume distributed in plains and foothills of the North-West Himalaya to Nepal and is facing high risk of extinction due to habitat loss and exploitation by the local people for its fuel and fodder values. Therefore, the present study was conducted to standardize a micropropagation protocol for Sophora mollis by using shoot tip explants and to study the meiotic chromosome count in the species. Results Multiple shoots were induced in shoot tip explants of Sophora mollis in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with different concentrations of cytokinins alone (BAP, TDZ, and Kinetin) and in combination with varying concentrations of NAA. MS medium supplemented with BAP (8.9 μM) was observed to be the optimal medium for multiple shoot induction and maximum 25.32 shoots per explant was obtained with average length of 4.5 ± 0.8 cm. In vitro developed shoots were transferred onto rooting media supplemented with different concentrations of auxin (IAA, IBA, and NAA). Maximum 86% rooting was observed in half-strength MS medium supplemented with 21.20 μM NAA with an average of 21.26 roots per culture. In vitro raised plantlets were adapted to greenhouse for better acclimatization and 60% plants were successfully transferred to the open environment. Based on the chromosome counts available from the literature and the current study, the species tend to show a basic chromosome number of x = 9. Conclusion The micropropagation protocol standardized can be helpful for the ex situ mass multiplication and germplasm conservation of the endangered species. Moreover, the ex situ conservation approach will be helpful in actively bridging the gap between ex situ and in situ approaches through the reintroduction of species in the wild. The cytological studies revealed the basic chromosome number x = 9 of the species.

Pittosporum eriocarpum Banks. ex Gaertn. (Pittosporaceae) is an endemic and threatened species of the North-West Himalaya and locally known as Agni. In this study the seed viability, seed germination and storage behavior of seeds was studied stored at different temperature. Maximum viability was reported in fresh seeds (98.21%) while the maximum germination percentage (87.11%) was observed in 6-months old seeds stored in refrigerator (polythene). Application of Gibberellic acid has improved the seed germination (54.13%) and to overcome the morpho-physiological dormancy of the seed to an extent.