<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">In vitro</i> propagation of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Spilanthes</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">acmella</i> (L.) Murray using semisolid and liquid medium

Abstract

<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Spilanthes acmella</i> (L.) Murray (Family: Asteraceae) is a multifunctional medicinal plant, which is a major source of alkamides including spilanthol reported to exhibit various pharmacological activities. Therefore, an efficient <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">in vitro</i> propagation protocol is requisite for conserving and meeting the ever increasing industrial demands of this plant. The present study investigates the effect of agar concentration and liquid medium on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">in vitro</i> proliferation of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">S. acmella</i>. Nodal segments of a healthy plant were surface sterilized and inoculated on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of BA (benzylaminopurine). Maximum bud break was observed in MS containing 0.5 mg/L BA. Maximum multiple shoots (6.20±0.45) with good mean shoot length (8.01±0.87 cm) was observed in liquid MS with 1 mg/L Kn (kinetin) in comparison with the semi solid medium. The regenerated shoots showed rooting without addition of any auxins but rooted best in MS medium containing 1 mg/L IBA and successfully hardened to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">ex vitro</i> conditions using cocopeat irrigated with ½ MS, followed by transfer to soil with 100% survival.