In Vitro Propagation of Chlorophytum Borivilianum

Abstract

Chlorophytum borivilianum (Safed musli) is an important medicinal plant and used world wide in drug industry. Although Chlorophytum propagates through tubers in its natural state, but propagation rate is too slow to meet demand of high quality planting material for commercial cultivation. Micropropagation protocol from selected, elite plants of Safed musli using nodal segment as explant was standardized. Shoot cultures were initiated on MS medium (1962, MS) containing BA (2.5 µM) and NAA (0.5 µM). Shoot proliferation was achieved on medium containing BA (5 µM) within 21 days of culture. Heat shock (50 °C for 1 h after 7 days of culturing) enhanced shoot proliferation at high sucrose concentration (232 and 290 mM). Heat shock also affected shoot length significantly in medium with 174 mM sucrose. ‘Compound A’ (a bioactive compound) was found to have beneficial effect on shoot proliferation at lower sucrose concentrations. Effect of two gelling agent (agar and phytagel) was compared in the present study. It was found that the phytagel has beneficial effect on the shoot proliferation and growth. However, agar was found to be beneficial for rooting of shoots. 95% rooting of microshoots was obtained on MS medium containing 290 mM sucrose and supplemented with IBA (5 µM). Regenerated plants after hardening were transferred to soil and they showed 24% survival in polyhouse while 90% survival was observed when directly transferred to shade house, thereby reducing the cost of acclimatization of plants. FYM and vermicompost were found to have beneficial effect on acclimatization of in vitro produced plants. The regenerated plants were morphologically similar to control plants and preliminary study indicate that they are also genetically identical.