SHOOT REGENERATION AND SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS FROM DIFFERENT EXPLANTS OF BRAHMI [BACOPA-MONNIERA (L.) WETTST.]

The morphogenetic potential of node, internode and leaf explants of Br ahmi [Bacopa monniera (L.) Wettst.] was investigated to develop reliab le protocols for shoot regeneration and somatic embryogenesis. The exp lants were excised from shoots raised from axillary buds of nodal expl ants cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium. Presence of 6- benzylaminopurine (BA) or kinetin influenced the degree of callus form ation, from which a large number of shoot buds regenerated. Leaf expla nts gave the largest number of shoot buds followed by node and interno de explants. BA was superior to kinetin; BA at 1.5 - 2.0 mg/l appeared to be optimum for inducing the maximum number of shoot buds. MS + 0.1 mg/l BA + 0.2 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid was the most suitable for sho ot elongation. Elongated shoots were rooted on full-or half-strength M S medium with or without 0.5-1.0 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid or 0.5-1.0 mg/l alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid. The rooted plants were successfull y established in soil. Calli derived from nodal explants cultured on M S medium containing 0.5 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), w hen subcultured on MS medium containing 0.1 or 0.5 mg/l EA or 0.2 mg/l 2,4-D + 0.1 or 0.5 mg/l kinetin, developed somatic embryos. The somat ic embryos germinated either on the same media or on MS basal medium, and the resulting plantlets were successfully transplanted to soil.