DIRECT ORGANOGENESIS AND MASS PROPAGATION FROM THE NODAL EXPLANTS OF Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Muell.

An efficient in vitro propagation protocol for Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Muell. (Violaceae) has been developed. Nodal explants were cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with different concentrations of cytokinins, BAP and Kin, ranging from 5 µM to 25 µM, either individually or in combinations for shoot induction. Shoot buds proliferated on MS medium fortified with 15 µM BAP and subsequently BAP (15 µM) in combination with different concentrations of Kin ranging from 2 µM to 10 µM. Maximum number of 36.8 ± 1.54 shoots were produced on MS medium containing 15 µM BAP + 6 µM Kin. The regenerated shoots were transferred to rooting medium containing auxins at different concentrations ranging from 2 µM to 10 µM IAA, IBA or NAA. The highest number of roots were observed on 1/2 strength MS medium fortified with 4 µM IBA. The plantlets were then hardened and acclimatized in soil. About 80% of plantlets survived in the field condition. A completely randomized design was used in all experiments and analysis of variance and mean separations were carried out using Duncan’s multiple range test Each treatment factor consists of 10 replicates repeated for 5 times. This protocol would help ex situ conservation of this ethnomedicinal plant.