<i>In-Vitro</i> Mass Propagation of <i>Withania somnifera</i> (L.) Dunal

Abstract

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.) Dunal] is an important medicinal plant and a major source of alkaloids and steroids (withanolids), which is regularly used in pharmaceutical industries. Various vegetative parts were studied for its mass propagation through tissue culture technique. Seeds were pretreated with GA3 (50 and 100 mgl^-1) for 24 h and 80% germination was achieved. All the explants were taken from in-vitro germinated plant. Among the different explants tested, multiple shoot formation was achieved from shoot-tip and nodal explants in MS medium + 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mgl^-1 kinetin. Nodal explants were selected for mass propagation protocol because it formed maximum number of shoots (16.25 shoots per explant) on MS medium + 1mgl^-1 kinetin after eight weeks of culture. Increase in concentration of kinetin was most effective for callus formation. For further multiplication these shoots were sub-cultured on MS +0.5 mgl^-1 kinetin. Presence of IAA at 0.5 mgl^-1 was most effective medium for rooting of in-vitro propagated shoots. However, hardening was not achieved for these propagated plants.

Key words: IAA; IBA; NAA; kinetin; in-vitro multiplication

DOI: 10.3126/njst.v11i0.4131

Nepal Journal of Science and Technology 11 (2010) 101-106