Full Length Research Paper

Rauwolfia serpentina: Protocol optimization for in vitro propagation

Richa Bhatt¹, Mohd Arif²*, A. K. Gaur³ and P. B. Rao⁴

¹Department of Plant Pathology, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263145, Uttarakhand, India.

²Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India.

³Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263145, Uttarakhand, India.

⁴Department of Biological Sciences, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263145, Uttarakhand, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: marif181@gmail.com.

Accepted 15 October, 2008

Rauwolfia serpentina L. Benth. ex. Kurz. (Apocynaceae) a woody perennial shrub, possess alkaloids namely reserpine, ressinamine and yohmbine, and used to cure various neurological ailments. The present investigation is an effort to establish Rauwolfia for micro-propagation and sub-culturing. The shoots and leaves were used as explants and cultured on MS media supplemented with three phytohormones in two combinations; 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) + 2-benzyl amino purine (BAP) and indole-3-butiric acid (IBA) + BAP. These combinations were examined for callus induction and direct regeneration. Induction of callus was established from leaf and stem tissues and direct regeneration from apical and nodal explants. Combination of IBA (0.125 mg/L.) + BAP (1.0 mg/L.) produced better results for both callus induction and direct regeneration.

Keywords: Rauwolfia serpentina, medicinal plant, micro-propagation, phytohormone, tissue culture.