Ravindra Kumar;Raoof Ahmad Najar;Kunj Bihari Gupta;R. G. Sain

Department of Biochemistry and Microbial Sciences, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India;Centre for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research, Adesh University, Bathinda, Indi;Department of Plant Sciences, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India

Salvadora oleoides;Endangered species;Micropropagation;Explants;Calluses;Acclimatize;IN-VITRO;CLONAL PROPAGATION;CALLUS INDUCTIO

Salvadora oleoides Decne. is a pharmaceutically important plant. Owing to poor seed formation, viability and, germination, and to anthropogenic disturbances, this species is on the verge of extinction. A reproducible micropropagation protocol to increase the population through tissue culture has been standardized and the results are reported here. Callus tissues were initiated from young leaves and stem explants. Leaf calluses proliferated with 1.5mg/L BAP and 0.9mg/L 2, 4-D with additives and continuous slow proliferation up to 15weeks on 0.5mg/L BAP and additives with 200mg/L activated charcoal. Direct shoot initiation took place from stem node explants after 12days; 4-5 shoots per node were produced in 30days. Shoot clumps elongated and grew further on MS media supplemented with 2mg/L BAP, 0.2mg/L NAA and additives, which generated 20-23 shoots. The elongated shoots induced tap roots with 4mg/L NAA and 200mg/L activated charcoal in 12days. In vitro raised plants produced secondary roots when transferred to pots containing vermiculite maintained at 28-35 degrees C. The plantlets successfully acclimatised in pots containing soil in natural conditions.