Technology refinement for micropropagated Aloe vera L.: a miracle plant

Aloe vera L. is an important pharmaceutical plant from which several medicinal and cosmetic compounds are extracted. Due to the overhead costs involved most developing countries are limited in maximizing tissue culture technology. In view of this, the aim of this research was to evaluate alternative cheap sources of carbon and energy without compromising the yield and quality in in vitro raised plantlets. Surface sterilized shoot buds cultured on control (MS + 30g sucrose + 8g agar-agar) and low cost medium (MS + 30g table sugar + 100g tapioca pearls) supplemented with 2.0 mg/l, 0.5 mg/l and 0.2 mg/l NAA showed 81.66% and 79.33% establishment respectively. Both control as well as low cost medium was found at par with each other having 81.99% and 81.80% shoot regeneration respectively. 77.67% rooting and 4.33 average roots per shoot were found on 1/4 MS + 30g sucrose + 8g agar-agar and 78.00% rooting and 3.67 average roots per shoot on 1/4 MS + 30g table sugar + 100g tapioca pearls. The study has resulted in the reduction cost of the medium by substituting agar-agar and sucrose with tapioca pearls and table sugar