In vitro conservation protocol of Ceropegia bulbosa: An important medicinal and threatened plant species of Western Rajasthan
In vitro regeneration protocol has been standardized for highly medicinal and threatened succulent Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. The paper focuses on morphogenic response of nodal explant when cultured on MS media. Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA) (2.0 mgl-1) was found optimum for axillary shoot bud induction with 83.4 % response. Further shoots were multiplied through repetitive (3-4 times) transfer of the original explant and by subculture of the in vitro generated shoots. Maximum number of shoots 5.7±0.78 with shoot length of 3.6±0.82 cm was achieved on MS medium augmented with combination of 0.25 mgl-1 BA + 0.25 mgl-1 KN + 0.1 mgl-1 IAA and additives (50.0 mgl-1 ascorbic acid, 25 mgl-1 each of citric acid, arginine and adenine sulphate). For ex vitro rooting, pulse treatment of IBA 250 mgl-1 for 3 min was found optimum. The rooted shoots were successfully hardened in the green house condition (RH 75-80% at 26-28˚C) and about 80 % shoots were transferred to the garden.