In vitro plant regeneration in Holarrhena antidysenterica Wall., through high-frequency axillary shoot proliferation

An efficient, rapid and large-scale propagation of the woody, aromatic and medicinal shrub, Holarrhena antidysenterica, through in vitro culture of no dal segments with axillary buds, is described. N-6-benzyladenine used at 15 muM was the most effective in inducing bud break and growth, and also in i nitiating multiple shoot proliferation at the rate of 43 microshoots per no dal explant with axillary buds, after 30 d of culture. By repeated subcultu ring of nodal explants with axillary buds, a high-frequency multiplication rate was established. Efficient rooting was achieved with 35 muM indole-3-b utyric acid which was the most effective in inducing roots, as 80% of the m icroshoots produced roots. Plantlets went through a hardening phase in a co ntrolled plant growth chamber, prior to ex vitro transfer. Micropropagated plants established in garden soil were uniform and identical to donor plant s with respect to growth characteristics and vegetative morphology.