IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF CHUNGAH (CARALLUMA TUBERCULATA N.E. BROWN)

Abstract

In vitro propagation of Caralluma tuberculata (Chungah) was developed from shoot tip and meristem explants. C. tuberculata is an imperative medicinal plant comprising antidiabetic and anticancer properties. The explants were inoculated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different plant growth regulators. Presence of BA or Kin alone in the MS medium did not favor regeneration of shoot from both explants. However, addition of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4- D), gibberellic acid (GA3) and thidiazuron (TDZ) along with 6-benzyl amino purine (BA) or kinetin (Kin) in the medium exhibited significant percentage response, number of shoots per explant and shoot length. Maximum shooting response (53.3±5.77% from meristem and shoot tip explants each) with highest number of shoots per explant (5.33±2.08 and 5.6±2.52 from meristem and shoot tip explants, respectively) were observed at 13.32 µmol BA along with 2.26 µmol 2,4-D, 2.89 µmol GA3 and 9.08x10-3 µmol TDZ. Replacing BA with kin showed less shoot regeneration response and number of shoots per explant, however, shoots length markedly increased in the presence of Kin. The regenerated plants were successfully rooted and acclimatized in ex vitro condition. The protocol described here can be used for fast multiplication of this endangered herb and genetic transformation.