Thidiazuron-induced high frequency establishment of callus cultures and plantlet regeneration in Aconitum balfourii Stapf.: An endangered medicinal herb of North-West Himalayas

摘要

The present study reports an efficient in vitro plantlet regeneration protocol for endangered, pharmacologically important aconite, Aconitum balfourii Stapf. via callus-mediated organogenesis from both leaf and petiole segments. Optimum callusing was observed on MS+0.5 mg L-1 TDZ (thidiazuron)+1.0 mg L-1 NAA (naphthalene acetic acid) in both leaf (86.67%) and petiole explants (73.34%). Further, shoot induction was maximum (86.67 +/- 0.20) on MS fortified with 0.5 mg L-1 TDZ with formation of 7.8 +/- 0.51 number of shoots. The well-developed microshoots were transferred to root induction medium and optimum rooting was observed in full-strength MS augmented with 0.25 mg L-1 IAA (indole acetic acid) and 0.25 mg L-1 NAA. The plantlets thus obtained, after washing, were kept in 0.5% bavistin for 10 min and were planted in pre-sterilized mixture of sand, soil and vermicompost (1:1:1) and acclimatized in controlled environment. The acclimatized plantlets were successfully transferred in field conditions displaying normal development.