IN VITRO SHOOT MULTIPLICATION FROM SHOOT TIP AND NODAL EXPLANTS OF Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex. Kurz, AN ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANT

Presence of pharmaceutically important alkaloids in various parts of the plant body made Rauvolfia serpentina an overexploited one and led to its inclusion in Red Data Book of India as an endangered species. Conventional propagation is beset with problems like poor seed viability, low seed germination rate and delayed rooting of cuttings. In vitro clonal propagation may therefore be beneficial for the production of elite plants and subsequent germplasm conservation. Multiple shoots were obtained from shoot tip and nodal explants of Rauvolfia serpentina on MS media supplemented with different concentrations of BAP. Maximum number of shoots was obtained from shoot tip and nodal explants at 13.32μM BAP. Shoot multiplication and their development was better on MS medium supplemented with 8.87μM BAP and 2.85μM IAA for shoot tip explants and 8.87μM BAP with 5.71μM IAA for nodal explants. In vitro regenerated shoots were rooted in half strength MS medium fortified with 7.38μM IBA. The regenerated plantlets were acclimatized and successfully transferred to field condition.