Cg. Sudha et S. Seeni, IN-VITRO MULTIPLICATION AND FIELD ESTABLISHMENT OF ADHATODA-BEDDOMEI CB CLARKE, A RARE MEDICINAL PLANT, Plant cell reports, 13(3-4), 1994, pp. 203-207
Clonal propagation of Adhatoda beddomei C.B. Clarke (Acanthaceae), a r
are medicinal shrub, was achieved through callus-free axillary meriste
m proliferation from stem node explants of field-grown plants cultured
in SH medium. Shoot multiplication was a function of cytokinin activi
ty but sustained growth of the shoots was dependent on the synergistic
effect with the auxin, IAA. An optimum number of 5-10 shoots per expl
ant were obtained in 6 weeks using 3.0 mg.l-1 BAP, 0.5 mg.l-1 2-ip and
1.0 mg.l-1 IAA. Upon subculture, vertical halves of the precultured n
ode with the differentiated shoots yielded a larger aggregate number o
f shoots (23-27) than the uncut precultured node left intact (15-17).
Shoot multiplication was rapid and consistent over prolonged periods w
hen the hormonal concentrations were reduced to 1.0 mg.l-1 BAP and 0.2
mg.l-1 IAA during subculture, and reculture of the nodal explants der
ived from shoot cultures. Rooting of 3-5 cm shoots thus obtained was g
reatly accelerated in stationary liquid medium containing 0.2 mg.l-1 I
BA or IAA. Hardening ok the rooted plantlets in the humidity chamber w
as essential for high frequency (95%) survival. Micropropagated plants
established in the field flowered after fifteen months and were free
from apparent defects in cytological, growth and flowering characteris
tics.