In Vitro Micropropagation of Andrographis macrobotrys

Abstract

ABSTRACT In vitro propagation method was developed for Andrographis macrobotrys for large-scale multiplication. Nodal explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing cytokinins including 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP), kinetin (KN), 2-isopentyl adenine (2-iP) and thidiazuron (TDZ) at 2.5, 5, 7.5 or 10 μM L−1. Multiple axillary shoots (32 shoots per explants) were regenerated from nodal explants on MS medium supplemented with 7.5 μM L−1 BAP. Quarter strength MS medium supplemented with 5 μM L−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was effective for induction of roots from the regenerated shoots and on this medium optimal of 49 roots were regenerated from shoots. Micropropagated plants were transplanted to pots containing soil and coco-peat (1:1) mix and maintained in growth chamber at 25 ± 2°C, relative humidity 80%, irradiance of 100 µmol m−2 s−1 for 16-h photoperiod. After eight weeks, plants were transferred to field where soil was mixed with farmyard manure and sand.