Low-temperature storage in dark condition improved the in vitro regeneration of Plumbago zeylanica synthetic seeds: a medicinally valuable species

Abstract

Medicinal applications of Plumbago zeylanica and its metabolites on various diseases and low viability and inconsistent germination of its seeds are the reasons behind the loss of its genetic diversity. Hence, an efficient protocol for the short-term storage of P. zeylanica synthetic seeds, which is an overexploited medicinally valuable plant, was developed. Initially, in vitro culture was performed from nodal explants to develop synthetic seeds from its proliferated shoots. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium augmented with 0.5 mg L⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) resulted in the best morphogenetic response. Thereafter, the developed synseeds were stored for 2 wk at a temperature of 10 or 25°C in different conditions and further evaluated for regeneration. Higher re-growth rate (80%) and the identical morphogenetic response were recorded for the P. zeylanica synthetic seeds, which were stored at a temperature of 10°C in dark condition after its storage period. As per the available literature, this is the first report pertaining to in vitro low-temperature storage of synthetic seeds of P. zeylanica and can further be utilized for the conservation of elite clones for the study of medicinally potent species.