CALLUS INDUCTION AND IN VITRO MULTIPLICATION OF BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA - MILESTONE MEDICINAL PLANT OF JHARKHAND

Abstract

Boerhaavia diffusa commonly known as Punarnava is an important plant of India having wide range of pharmacological, clinical, antibacterial and antiviral properties.The commercial bulk of Boerhavia diffusa represent a heterogeneous population. Consequently, it quit often result in poor quality roots and biomass. The modern cultivation of plant with impressive uniformity and high productivity for end product is still grossly lacking in Boerhavia diffusa. The need, therefore is to genetically improve the available commercial bulk of Boerhavia diffusa in order to meet the natural requirement of the valuable products. In this context, an attempt was taken to improve the yield and quality of Boerhavia diffusa, by callogenesis from leaf and nodal explant. Different combination of Auxin and Cytokinin with or without addatives (citric acid, ascorbic acid and coconut water) were tested. Among 20 different hormonal combination of MS media, media supplemented with BAP -3mg/L + NAA- 0.5mg/L +citric acid - 0.5mg/L + 2, 4-D-0.1 mg/L shows high efficacy to induce callus and then organogenesis (shoot bud differentiation). Callus induction was observed within 12 days and the callus was subultured once in 2 week in sub culturing media. The multiple shoot regeneration was observed with max. no. of 8-10 in media supplemented with BAP -0.5mg/L +NAA -1.0mg/L + coconut water - 5mL/L. The regenerated shoots having size of 5-8 mm were excised and transferred to liquid medium supplemented with low concentration of IAA, NAA for rooting.