437 Rapid in Vitro Multiplication of an Endangered Medicinal

An efficient and reproducible procedure for clonal multiplication through in vitro culture of Rauwolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. (Sarpagandha) is standardized. The different explants like leaf and stem were used for callus induction and regeneration of the complete plantlets. High-frequency callusing was induced in leaf and stem explant of Rauwolfia serpentina on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/l 2,4-D. Maximum regeneration of shoots from callus (90%) was observed in MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/l NAA and 1.5 mg/l BA. However direct regeneration (96%) was recorded best in MS medium supplemented with BAP 2.5 mg/l. The maximum number of shoots per explant (6.5) was also highest in this phyto-hormone combination. Higher induction of root (100%) was observed in MS medium supplemented with NAA 0.5 mg/l. The rooted plantlets were successfully established in the field