Overview

An efficient protocol was established for in vitro propagation of one endangered and one rare medicinal plants, Gloriosa superba Linn. and Plumbago indica L. For shoot induction in G. superba MS basal medium, supplemented with 4.0 mg/l BAP + 1.0 mg/l IAA was required, in which 92% culture produced shoots with 4 shoots per culture, respectively, whereas for P. indica MS basal medium with 0.5 mg/l BAP was needed, in which 95% culture produced shoots with 6 shoots per culture. For further development of the medium, casein hydrolysate (CH) (50-200mg\l), activated charcoal (AC) (2g/l) and coconut water (CW) (5-20%) were added individually to the medium increased the number of shoots upto 12 and 14 per culture. In vitro raised shoots rooted on half strength MS medium with auxin were found tobe species specific, which were 1.0 mg/l each of IBA and IAA for G. superba and 0.5 mg/l of IAA for P. indica. For acclimatization and transplantation, the plants in the rooting culture tubes were kept in normal room temperature for 7 days. The teachnique described here maybe a promising method for propagation as well as for sustainable use and conservation.