Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration of a Rare and Multipurpose Medicinal Plant Hemidesmus indicus (L.) Schult

Hemidesmus indicus (L.) Schult. (Family: Periplocaceae) is an important, multipurpose and a rare medicinal plant. It is locally known as Anantmul and is quite familiar as Indian Sarsaparilla. Protocol for in vitro plant regeneration from callus via somatic embryogenesis has been developed for this plant using leaf explants. Nodular embryogenic callus was initiated from leaf explants when inoculated onto MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (1 mg/l). These calli when sub-cultured on hormone free N,N- basal medium developed into somatic embryos within 8-weeks in dark condition. Subsequently, embryos germinated into complete plantlets on the same medium with well developed shoot and root system. The in vitro derived plants were hardened in the soil, sand and compost mixture (2:1:1).