Simple Protocol for Micropropagation andin VitroConservation ofPlumbago zeylanicaL: An Important Indigenous Medicinal Plant

Abstract

A simple protocol was developed for in vitro clonal propagation by multiple shoot induction of Plumbago zeylanica L., a plant having high medicinal values. Root of P. zeylanica is widely used as a traditional medicine. The plant is very popular to different pharmaceutical industry and is mainly harvested from the natural habits. Population growth, urbanization and the unrestricted collection of these plants from the wild population is resulting in an over-exploitation of natural habits. To cope up this alarming situation and to ensure its sustainability, plant tissue culture technique was applied. Micropropagation methodology is a potent alternative approach which has opened extensive areas of research for biodiversity conservation. High fre quencies of multiple shoot regeneration (10 to 12 shoots explant -1 ) were achieved from P. zeylanica from nodal explant on to MS medium fortified with 2.0 mg l -1 BAP and 0.2 mg l -1 NAA. MS medium along with 1.0 mg l -1 BAP and 0.2 mg l -1 GA 3 showed the highest shoot elongation. The elongated shoots were subcultured for rooting on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l -1 IBA. The survival rate of 95% in vitro raised plantlets were acclimatized in poly greenhouse and successfully transplanted to natural condition. In vitro conservation was also evaluated by supplementing various osmotic agents. For in vitro mid-term conservation, the complete plantlets were maintained healthy condition upto 10 months at 10 0 C without any subculture by using MS medium in combination with 2% manitol and 2% sorbitol. All regenerated plants are cytologically stable (2n=24), their chromosomal status same as source plant.

A review on pharmaceutically important medical plant: Plumbago zeylanica

“…A report shows the maximum number of roots in MS media containing 0.1 mg/l NAA+ 1.5 mg/l Kinetin from nodal explants [36] . Similarly, another study reported that MS media containing 2mg/l BAP+ 0.2mg/l NAA showed the maximum number of shoots from nodal explants where as MS media containing 1mg/l IBA showed the maximum number of roots [37] .…”

Callus Induction from the Leaves and Organogenesis from the Leaf induced Calli of Piper longum L.

“…The demand and dependency on traditional medicine in the developing countries is very high (Chatterjee and Ghosh, 2015). Due to all these reasons the plant attracts locals to over collect, rapid loss in its natural habitat due to the production of unviable viable seeds (Kanimazi and Sujata, 2015) and various other reasons like habitat loss have made this species vulnerable and hence the Department of Plant Resources, Nepal has included this species under their list of prioritized plants for multiplication and conservation.…”