Saikat Gantait;Joshitha Vijayan;Adity Maje

Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal 741252, India;Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty Centre for Integrated Rural Development and Management, School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur, Kolkata 700103, India;Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty Centre for Integrated Rural Development and Management, School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur, Kolkata 700103, Indi

Tylophora indica;calcium chloride;conversion;encapsulation;germplasm swap;Na-alginate;nodal segmen

Our research work demonstrates the single bead alginate-encapsulation, interim storing and conversion of Tylophora indica (Burm. Fil.) Merrill. Most effective encapsulation of in vitro nodal segments [(4 +/- 1) mm long], ensuing in sphere-shaped artificial seeds of similar morphology, was achieved through 75 mmol.L-1 calcium chloride (CaCl2 center dot 2H(2)O) plus 3% (w/v) Na-alginate with 93.3% conversion frequency. The earliest conversion (within 7 days of incubation) of artificial seeds occurred in half-strength liquid Murashige and Skoog medium. Among the three different temperature regimes [(5 +/- 1) degrees C, (15 +/- 1) degrees C, and (25 +/- 1) degrees C], storage of artificial seeds at (15 +/- 1) degrees C executed the highest frequency of conversion (90%) after 15 days of storage. Lengthier storage significantly reduced the conversion frequency of artificial seeds irrespective of storage temperature. Nevertheless, the conversion frequency after 30 days of storage at (15 +/- 1) degrees C was recorded at 70% without further decline even following 45 days of storage, which evidently suggests that lower temperature (15 +/- 1) degrees C is apt for storage and subsequent conversion of T. indica artificial seeds. The present protocol could be expedient for short-term storing and swapping of T. indica germplasms between national and international laboratories.