In vitro propagation conservation and biochemical characterisation of some selected rare and endemic plant species of Kashmir Himalaya

Abstract

The present study was carried on two plant species namely Aquilegia nivalis Flac Ex Jackson and Meconopsis aculeta Royle endemic to Kashmir Himalaya. Literature survey revealed that no work has been done on in vitro propagation, phytochemical and biological activities. newlineOur investigation in the present study demonstrates that a successful protocol for regeneration of plants from seeds and rhizome sections. A successful protocol was developed for embryogenic callus induction and synthetic seed production in Aquilegia nivalis and Meconopsis aculeta which would be useful for the mass propagation and conservation of these rare medicinal plants. The synthetic seeds produced could be effectively utilized for storage, thus enabling transportation and exchange of valuable germplasm of these important medicinal plants. The synthetic seeds can be used as an alternative propagating method for seed production, especially in places where clean healthy plant materials are not readily available for use. newlineRhizome sections of Aquilegia nivalis kept in petridishes containing aqueous solutions of hormones viz. cytokinins (BAP, Zeatin); auxins (IBA, IAA); gibberellins (GA3) in different concentrations (50, 100, 150 ppm for both cytokinins and auxins while as 250, 500, 100 ppm for GA3) for germination of the rhizome by bud sprouting leading to full plantlet development. newlineAmong the various treatments, IBA 50 and 150 ppm induced the germination of buds in 50% rhizome sections. BAP 50, 100 and 150 ppm showed good response in inducing bud sprouting in 50% of rhizome sections, whereas the shoot length of 0.7 cm was observed in case of 150 ppm of BAP with 50% rhizome regeneration. GA3 500 ppm was effective in inducing 50% sprouting of buds in the rhizome sections and the shoot length obtained was 0.5cm. However GA3 1000 ppm concentration was more effective in inducing germination, as 100% of rhizome sections regenerated shoots and the highest shoot length measured was 1.8 cm in Aquilegia nivalis...