Ajuga bracteosa Wall ex. Benth is an important medicinal plant growing in Kashmir Himalaya. During the present study an efficient and rapid in vitro protocol has been established viz; Callus induction and multiple shoot regeneration. Callus induction has been achieved from different explants viz., leaf, petiole and internodal cuttings. Maximum callus production was obtained when leaf explants were inoculated on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with BAP (benzylaminopurine 5.0 mg/l) after 19 days of inoculation. In the petiole explant callus was induced on MS (Murashige and Skoog ) medium supplemented with BAP (2.0 mg/l) + IAA ( Indole-3-acetic acid 3.0 mg/l) after 51 days of inoculation and from internodal explant callus was induced on MS medium supplemented with BAP (2.0 mg/l) + NAA(α-Naphthalene acetic acid 5.0 mg/l) after 35 days of inoculation. Callus derived from leaf explants differentiated into multiple shoots on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of auxins (IAA, NAA) and cytokinins (BAP, Kinetin). Maximum multiple shoots regenerated on MS medium supplemented with BAP (5.0 mg/l) after 28 days of inoculation.

Heracleum candicans belongs to the family Apiaceae, and is categorized as a vulnerable Himalayan medicinal herb. Due to its diverse chemical constituents it is having an increased demand in pharmaceutical industries, especially in international market. This herb is commercially useful as a major source of Xanthotoxin which is widely used to treat leucoderma and to prepare suntan lotions. During the present study direct shoot regeneration has been achieved from hypocotyl explants on MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medium fortified with different plant growth hormones. Shoot bud regeneration was achieved on media augmented with auxins like Indoleacetic acid (IAA), 2,4dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and cytokinins like Kinetin (KN) and Benzyladenine (BA). Due to the presence of 2,4-D in the medium friable callus development has been reported in some cultures. Regenerated shoots were transferred to MS basal medium for root induction and later on successfully acclimatized in vermiculite under controlled conditions. This is the first report on plant regeneration from hypocotyl explants of H. candicans and could be used as an alternative for large scale propagation and conservation of this vulnerable plant species.

Atropa acuminata Royle, family Solanaceae, is an important medicinal plant species growing in Kashmir Himalaya. During the present study an efficient in vitro protocol has been standardized viz; Callus development and shoot regeneration. Callus development has been achieved from the leaf explant. Callus was obtained when leaf explants were inoculated on MS medium supplemented with BAP and NAA at a concentration of 2.0 mg/l after 62 days of inoculation. Callus developed from leaf explants differentiated into shoots on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of auxins (IAA, NAA) and cytokinins (BAP). Maximum shoots regenerated on MS medium supplemented with BAP and IAA (3.0 mg/l and 2.0 mg/l) after 19 days.

In vitro regeneration of plants is influenced to a great extent by genotype, the type of explant used, media composition and plant growth regulators. This research was devised to study the effect of explant source and different hormonal combinations on the in vitro regeneration of Heracleum candicans. Two different explants viz; leaf and petiole were used to investigate their morphogenic response on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of auxins (2, 4dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and indole 3-acetic acid) and cytokinins (6-benzyl amino purine and kinetin) either individually or in combinations. Petiole explants were most responsive for callus production as well as shoot regeneration. 2,4-D at 3 mg/L proved to be the best concentration for callus induction. For shoot regeneration, MS medium supplemented with BAP at 3 mg/l and IAA at 2 mg/l proved to be effective in production of 21±0.7 mean number of shoots in 90% of cultures. Regenerated shoots were separated and rooted on full strength MS basal medium producing 6.9 average numbers of roots per shoot in 90% of cultures. The present research yielded a suitable explant and optimum concentrations of different plant growth regulators for in vitro regeneration of this important medicinal herb.

During the present study, in vitro petiole explants of Atropa acuminata were subjected to in vitro as to develop efficient micropropagation protocols for its regeneration. In vitro petiole explant produced maximum amount of callus on MS medium supplemented with BAP (3mg/l) in 80% cultures within 20 days. Shoot regeneration was obtained after sub-culturing the callus on MS medium supplemented with BAP with mean shoot number of 8.6±4. and a mean shoot length of 2.3±0.20 cm in 100% cultures within 13 days. Root regeneration was obtained on MS medium augmented with IBA (0.5mg/l) with a mean number of roots and mean root length of 1.3±0.11cm response within 32 days.