In Vitro Plant Regeneration from Shoot Tip and Nodal Explants of Rhinacanthus Nasutus (L.) Kurz.

An efficient, rapid and large-scale in vitro clonal propagation of the valuable medicinal shrub Rhinacanthus nasutus (Acanthaceae) by enhanced shoot proliferation in nodal and shoottip segments was designed. Both the explants gave rise to multiple shoots when cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of BAP and KIN. The highest rate of shoot multiplication (26.33 shoots/ explants) as well as beneficial shoot length (10 cm) was obtained in nodal explants on MS containing 2.0 mg/L BAP. Subculturing of regenerated shoots on similar medium enabled continuous production of healthy shoots with similar frequency. Rooting was highest (16 roots/explant) in nodal explants on full strength MS medium containing 2.0 mg/L IBA. Micropropagated plants established in a mixture garden soil, farmyard (manure) and sand (2:1:1) were uniform and identical to the donor plant with respect to growth characteristics as well as floral features. These plants grew normally without showing any morphological variation