Micropropagation Studies on Centella Asiatica Linn.- an Important Medicinal Plant

Abstract

Centella asiatica Linn., commonly known as Mandukparni or Brahmi-manduki, is a traditional medicinal herb widely used as a brain tonic. Micropropagation offer rapid, in vitro clonal multiplication of elite clones and further helps in dissemination and ex situ conservation of this important yet endangered medicinal plant. In the present dissertation, we have tried to optimize the in vitro culture conditions of Centella asiatica for mass multiplication and callus culture study has also been initiated. Through our work, we have found that MS Basal + 3 mg/l BAP + 0.025 mg/l of IAA + 30 gm/l Sugar + 8.0 gm/l agar gives the best result for culture initiation as well as in axillary shoot proliferation for no of leaves/shoot, no of shoots/node, no of nodes/explant and explant height. For rooting, MS + 0.5 mg/l IBA + 30 gm/l of sugar + 8 gm/l agar gave higher primary roots/shoot with higher secondary roots. Green globular callus was best induced and proliferated in MS + 3 mg/l NAA + 1 mg/l Kinetin + 30 gm/l sugar + 8 gm/l of agar.