Studies on Calli Mediated Multiple Shoot Regeneration from Rumex vesicarius L.

Rumex vesicarius L is a valuable potent medicinal herb, which belongs to family Polygonaceae. It possesses antimicrobial, anti- inflammatory, antidiarrhoeal and antioxidant properties. An attempt to study the In vitro callus induction and regeneration of plantlets from calli of leaf and nodal segments as explants has been achieved. Initially mature seeds were excised from plants grown in the departmental garden of KL University. The sterilized seed explants were inoculated aseptically to the solid basal SH media without any growth regulators for seed germination. Effective plantlets observed after 1 week of culture inoculation under maintained controlled conditions. From these In vitro plantlets, leaf and nodal segments were taken as explants for this study. These explants were inoculated on SH medium supplemented with different concentrations of BA (0.5-5.0mg/l) and 2, 4-D (0.5-3.0mg/l) for callus induction and multiple shoot regeneration. 90% of callus induction was observed on media containing BA 4.0mg/l and efficient multiple shoot induction (96.6%) was observed on media containing BA 1.0mg/l from leaf explants. 90% of callus induction and 85% of multiple shoot induction observed on media containing BA 2.0mg/l from nodal explants. Roots were induced from In vitro shoots on SH medium supplemented with 1mg/l IBA after 1 week. Leaf explants were more regenerative with 96.6% response compared to nodal explants 85%. Finally these In vitro regenerated plantlets were hardened, acclimatized and successfully transferred to the field. This protocol will be useful for mass multiplication of plantlets and maintenance of germplasm throughout the year.