IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF SPHAGNETICOLA TRILOBATA (L.) PRUSKI

Abstract

An efficient protocol for in vitro propagation of Sphagneticola trilobata is described through adventitious shoot regeneration and axillary shoot multiplication. Direct adventitious shoot buds were initiated from leaf explants after three weeks of culture on MS medium containing different concentrations of cytokinins (BA, Kinetin and 2iP). Among the growth regulators tested, BAP induced maximum number of shoots at 1.0 mg l(-1) and the corresponding percentage of shoot induction was 74%. Axillary shoot multiplication was achieved by culturing shoot tip and nodal explants on MS medium containing different concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators. The highest number of shoot buds was achieved when nodal explants cultured on MS medium fortified with 1.0 mg l(-1) BAP and 1.0 mg l(-1) IAA and 2.0 mg l(-1) GA(3) with an average of 42 shoots per explant. Maximum rooting (100 %) was obtained on half-strength MS medium fortified with 2.0 mg l(-1) IBA. The plantlets were successfully acclimatized after four weeks. This protocol could be utilized for in vitro clonal propagation of this economically important plant.