Abstract

A simple micropropagation method from nodal and shoot tip explants were reported here for Rorippa indica, an economically important medicinal plant. High frequency of micro shoots were obtained from these two explants on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of BAP (1.0 to 4.0 mg/l) and Kn (1.0 to 4.0 mg/l). Maximum number of shoots was obtained from nodal explants in the medium containing 3.0 mg/l BAP. The nodal explants produced the highest number (42.00 ± 4.42) of shoots per culture with a mean length of 9.45 ± 4.13 cm. The shoot tip explants produced maximum number of (37.35 ± 5.82) shoots per culture on the same medium, average length of the in vitro shoots being 7.10 ± 4.36 cm. The root induction was carried out by using IBA and IAA (0.5 to 2.0 mg/l). Among these, high frequency of root proliferation was achieved in the medium containing 1.5 mg/l of IBA. Rooted plantlets were carefully removed from the medium and treated with 10% bavistin for protecting the root system from fungal infection. After the bavistin treatment, roots were washed with distilled water six to eight times and transferred to plastic cups containing (1:1:1) red soil, sand, vermicompost. The rooted plantlets were hardened and transferred to the field. The survival rate was 90 to 95% after 25 days.

Key words: Rorippa indica, 6-benzyal amino purine, Kinetin, iodole 3 butyric acid, indole acetic acid, murashige and skoog medium.