Regeneration of plants from alginate-encapsulated shoot tips of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, a medicinally important plant species

J Plant Physiol. 2006 Feb;163(2):220-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2005.06.013. Epub 2005 Sep 2.

Abstract

A protocol was developed for plant regeneration from encapsulated shoot tips collected from in vitro proliferated shoots of Withania somnifera. The best gel composition was achieved using 3% sodium alginate and 75 mM CaCl2.2H2O. The maximum percentage response (87%) for conversion of encapsulated shoot tips into plantlets was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l IBA after 5 weeks of culture. The conversion of encapsulated shoot tips into plantlets also occurred when calcium alginate beads having entrapped propagules were directly sown in autoclaved soilrite moistened with 14-MS salts.

MeSH terms

  • Alginates
  • Glucuronic Acid
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Plant Shoots / physiology*
  • Plants, Medicinal
  • Regeneration / physiology*
  • Tissue Preservation / methods*
  • Withania / growth & development*

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Glucuronic Acid