MICROPROPAGATION STUDIES IN CEROPEGIA SPP

The purpose of this study was to develop in vitro techniques for conse rving wild and endemic species of Ceropegia by mass multiplication br subsequent reintroduction in their natural habitat. Micropropagation i nvolving a combination of axillary bud culture, shoot multiplication. somatic embryogenesis and in vitro tuber formation for Ceropegia jaini i, a rare plant of the Indian sub continent. C. bulbosa var. bulbosa a nd C. bulbosa var. lushii, common species, was developed. Nodal explan ts from all species were cultured on 0.5 MS medium with 8.8 mu M (2 mg .l(-1)) N-6-benzyl aminopurine (BA) to regenerate the axillary buds. T hese produced multiple shoots when transferred to multiplication mediu m consisting of 0.5 MS medium with 2.2 mu M (0,5 mg.l(-1)) BA, or micr otubers when transferred to 0.5 MS medium with 22.2 mu M (5 mg.l(-1)) BA and 23.2 mu M (5 mg.l(-1)) kinetin. In vitro flowering occurred in C. jainii and not in the other two varieties when the plants were cult ured on multiplication media with spermine at 0.25 mu M (50 mu g.l(-1) ) as an additive. Shoot pieces produced callus on MS medium with 9.05 mu M (2 mg.l(-1)) 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid. Regeneration of the calli by somatic embryogenesis was achieved when they were transferre d to 0.5 MS medium with 2.2 mu M (0.5 mg.l(-1)) BA. Rooting of the sho ots was possible both by in vitro and ex vitro means.