AN EFFICIENT MULTIPLE SHOOT INDUCTION PROTOCOL FROM NODAL AND ROOT EXPLANTS OF ATALANTIA MONOPHYLLA (L.) DC., A MEDICINAL PLANT.

Abstract

Atalantia monophylla (L.) DC. is a medium sized medicinal tree used in Ayurveda, Siddha and Traditional systems of medicine. It is used for the treatment of chronic rheumatism and paralysis, as an antidote for snake bites and shows antibacterial, antifungal and anti- feedant activity. The study aims to develop a protocol for multiple shoot induction from nodal and root explants. After surface sterilization the nodal portions were inoculated in MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of BAP and KIN alone or in combination. The root explants were inoculated into White’s root culture medium supplemented with various concentrations of BAP. In nodal culture the best response was obtained when MS medium supplemented with 3.5mg/l BAP and 1.0 mg/l KIN (8 shoots). While in root culture the best response of 5 shoots were obtained when White’s root culture medium was supplemented with 5mg/l BAP. The regenerated shoots were further subcultured into MS medium supplemented with IAA and IBA to produce individual plants. This study revealed that both nodal and root explants could be efficiently used for direct shoot regeneration of A. monophylla.