Abstract

A procedure for regeneration of complete plantlets of Swertia chirata via indirect organogenesis is described. Callus was obtained from in vitro  regenerated roots on Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) medium supplemented with varying concentrations of 6, benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). 13.32 µM BAP in combination with 0.90 µM 2,4-D proved to be the most effective concentration for callus induction, multiplication and adventitious shoot regeneration from callus surface. The optimal hormone combination for shoot multiplication was shown to be 8.88 µM BAP, 2.85 µM indole-3 acetic acid (IAA) and 271.45 µM adenine sulphate (Ads) giving an average of 10.70 shoots after 4 weeks and 17.50 shoots after 8 weeks. Individual elongated shoots were rooted on half-strength MS medium supplemented with varying concentrations of auxins. Best rooting was obtained with 4.90 µM indole-3 butyric acid (IBA) where an average of 14.40 and 21.50 roots per shoot could be obtained after 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. In vitro raised plantlets with well developed shoots and roots were acclimatized successfully.

Key words: Swertia chirata, in-vitro propagation, callus, adventitious shoots, rosette clumps.

Abbreviation

Abbreviations: MS, Murashige and Skoog (1962); BAP, 6, benzylaminopurine; NAA,α-naphthalene acetic acid; IBA, indole-3 butyric acid; IAA, indole-3 acetic acid; GA₃,gibberellic acid; Ads, adenine sulphate; 2,4-D, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid.