PRODUCTION OF 2-HYDROXY 4-METHOXY BENZALDEHYDE USING ROOT CULTURES OFHEMIDESMUS-INDICUS

Nodal explants of Hemidesmus indicus plants cultured in half strength Murashige and Skoog medium fortified with 2 mg indole-3-butyric acid l (-1) in the dark produced 10-12 roots (1-2 cm) with minimal callusing in 10 days. Roots, similar to 20 mg dry wt, cultured in Gamborg et al. medium supplemented with 2 mg IBA l(-1), sucrose (4% w/v), pH (5.6) a nd agitation (70 rpm) in the dark yielded 550 mg root dry wt/flask and 0.18% 2-hydroxy 4-methoxy benzaldehyde in the roots after 30 days. Th e maintenance of normal morphology of the roots, consistent biomass an d product yields over a 21-month period indicated the stability of the cultures.