Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from callus cultures of <i style="">Curculigo orchioides</i> Gaertn.

Abstract

<i style="">Curculigo orchioides</i> Gaertn. is now an endangered medicinal plant in its natural habitat due to indiscriminate harvesting and deforestation. The rhizome and tuberous roots of the plant have been used extensively in Indian indigenous medicine. The demand for<i style=""> C. orchioides</i> is constantly on the rise, however, the supply is rather erratic and inadequate. Therefore, the need for <i style="">in vitro</i> propagation of this plant is crucial. A successful protocol for effective plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis has been described. Embryogenic callus was induced from rhizome explants, and the maximum induction frequency (62%) was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (1962) basal medium (MS) containing 0.5-3 mg/L of 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/L BAP. Transfer of embryogenic calli to MS medium with 1-4 mg/L BAP resulted in somatic embryogenesis at high frequencies with an average of 23±0.8 somatic embryos per gram of embryogenic callus on MS medium with BAP (1 mg/L). After transfer onto ½ MS medium without growth regulators, approximately 90% of somatic embryos developed into complete plantlets. The rooted plantlets were successfully transferred to soil with 65-70% survival rate. The plants showed normal morphological characters.