Insights of Micropropagation, Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration from an Endangered Medicinal Plant Rauvolfia tetraphylla L.

By : Lavanya Nallasamy , Amutha Swaminathan , Deepika Krishnamoorthy , Girija Sangari Murugavelu , Swarna Lakshmi Selvaraj

Page No: 163-189

Abstract
Rauvolfia tetraphylla L. is a medicinal plant renowned for its pharmacological properties, faces threats due to habitat destruction and over-exploitation. This study targeted to explore micropropagation techniques to mitigate these challenges and investigated seed germination, callus formation from various explants, direct organogenesis, and somatic embryogenesis. Surface sterilization methods were optimized to enhance seed germination rates. The seed coat is hard it prevents the seed germination, to overcomethe seed dormancy and the seeds were treated with 4℃ for 48 hours. The germination of 83.33% was achieved after the partial seed coat removal. Callus formation was induced from leaf, node, internode, and root explants using different hormone combinations. Maximum callus formation was observed on MS medium amended with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 6 – benzyl amino- purine (2,4-D+BAP) in all explants. Hormone combinations also influenced direct root and shoot formation, with higher concentrations promoting greater responses. Somatic embryogenesis was induced in leaf and root explants using 2,4-D and BAP. Optimal concentrations (1.5 mg/L each) resulted in the formation of globular stage embryos. Histological analysis revealed distinct cellular processes during somatic embryogenesis, including embryo differentiation. It emphasizes the importance of hormone optimization and provides insights into the stomatic embryogenesis driving the plant regeneration in R. tetraphylla, offering valuable contributions to tissue culture protocols and conservation efforts for the endangered medicinal plant.

Authors:
Lavanya Nallasamy : Department of Botany, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Amutha Swaminathan : Department of Botany, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Deepika Krishnamoorthy : Department of Botany, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Girija Sangari Murugavelu : Department of Botany, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Swarna Lakshmi Selvaraj : Department of Botany, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPSR.2024.40.01.19