Propagation and Conservation of Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth.: An Endangered Himalayan Medicinal Herb of High Commercial Value

Abstract

Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth., a high value medicinal herb of alpine Himalaya and a source of hepatoprotective picrosides, is listed as 'endangered' due to heavy collection from its natural habitat. The present report deals with successful propagation of this species using both conventional and in vitro techniques. Vegetative propagation was achieved by rooting runner cuttings with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or a-naphtheleneacetic acid (NAA) treatment before planting. Nearly 87% rooting success was achieved by treatment of cuttings with 50.0 lM IBA. Seeds were given a presoaking treatment with gibberellic acid (GA 3 ), 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) or a combination of both to influence germination. More than 11-fold improvement in germination was recorded in seeds treated with 250.0 lM GA 3 . In vitro shoot multiplication was achieved through sprouting of axillary buds using nodal segment. Multiple shoots were formed following culture for 3 weeks on Murashige and Skoog (MS; 1962. Physiologia Plantarum 15: 473-497) medium containing 1.0 lM BAP. Cent percent rooting success, without basal callus formation, was observed when individual microshoots were placed in MS medium supplemented with IBA. The plantlets raised using conventional as well as tissue culture methods were hardened and successfully established in the experimental field located at 2450 m elevation. In addition, strategies have been discussed to encourage cultivation and in situ conservation of this highly valued medicinal herb so as to reduce pressure on its natural populations.

In vitro regeneration of an endangered medicinal plant Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora

“…A micropropagation of P. kurroa has been previously reported (Lal et al 1988, Upadhyay et al 1989, Pandey et al 2002, Chandra et al 2006). Our group have established a reproducible micropropagation protocols (Bantawa et al 2009b(Bantawa et al , 2010 and somatic embryogenesis (Bantawa 2009) of P. scrophulariiflora.…”

In vitro propagation of an endangered plant species, Thermopsis turcica (Fabaceae)

“…Problematic seed germination and seedling survival rate was previously reported for T. turcica (Cenkci et al 2007). In vitro multiplication and cyropreservation tools are accepted as powerful alternative conservation techniques for endangered plant species making possible their reintroduction into the natural environment (Wochock 1981), and thus reducing the risk of extinction (Nadeem et al 2000;Chandra et al 2006). The present research is therefore aimed at developing a successful in vitro regeneration system for T. turcica using direct and indirect organogenesis techniques.…”

Establishment of an Improved, Efficient and Eco-Friendly Micropropagation System in Salacia Chinensis L. An Endangered Anti-Diabetic Medicinal Plant

“…1E-F). The IBA stimulatory effect on plantlet rooting were reported in other medicinal plant species (Fracaro and Echeverrigary, 2001;Chandra et al, 2006;Mir et al, 2014).…”