An Efficient in vitro Clonal Propagation and Estimation of Reserpine Content in Different Plant Parts of Rauwolfia serpentina L

A highly efficient protocol for in vitro propagation of Rauwolfia serpentina L. was developed that consisted of callus induction, multiple shoot regeneration and rooting stages. Effect of different plant growth regulators, exclusively or in combination on callus induction, multiple shoot formation and root induction, were observed. Maximum callusing (93.65%) were obtained in leaf and stem explants inoculated in Murashige & Skoog’s (MS) medium containing 2,4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2.0 mg l ) plus 6-benzyl amino purine 1 (1.0 mg l ). Maximum shoots (25.4) per culture were obtained from the callus inoculated in shooting medium 1 containing BAP (2.0 mg l ) plus NAA (0.5 mg l ). The rooting was induced in in vitro regenerated shoots in 1 1 half strength MS medium containing IBA (0.2 mg l ) plus NAA (0.2 mg l ) and 100% rooting was obtained. 1 1 The in vitro regenerated plantlets were transferred to the glasshouse with 75% success. The reserpine content was measured in the different parts of Rauwolfia serpentina plant including, leaf, stem, flower and root. The 90% of the total reserpine content was produced from the root, with the stem and leaf containing 10%, it proves the tissue specificity of the reserpine production.