Abstract
Plant tissue culture offers several techniques for rapid clonal propagation, germplasm conservation, regeneration of genetically manipulated superior clones, production of phyto-constituents, and ex vitro conservation of valuable phytodiversity. An improved and efficient micropropagation protocol for Withania somnifera (L.), a drug-producing medicinal plant, using juvenile explants (nodal explants) has been developed. Highest multiplication and subsequent elongation of shoots is observed on MS medium containing BA and NAA. The regenerated microshoots roots best on ½ MS medium containing NAA, established in earthen pots containing garden soil and are maintained in the greenhouse with 95 % survival rate. Genetic uniformity of micropropagated plants is confirmed by PCR-based DNA fingerprinting techniques, viz., RAPD and ISSR. No variation is observed in DNA fingerprinting patterns among the micropropagated plants, which are similar to that of the donor plant illustrating their genetic uniformity.
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Acknowledgment
The financial assistance in the form of Dr. D.S. Kothari Postdoctoral Fellowship, University Grants Commission (UGC) to Dr. Nigar Fatima and The award of SERB, Young Scientist scheme (SB/YS/LS-145/2013), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, New Delhi to Dr. Naseem Ahmad is greatly acknowledged. Research support from The Department of Science and Technology (Govt. of India) New Delhi under the DST-FIST II (2011) and UGC-SAP (2009) Programme is also acknowledged.
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Fatima, N., Ahmad, N., Anis, M. (2016). In Vitro Propagation and Conservation of Withania somnifera (Dunal) L.. In: Jain, S. (eds) Protocols for In Vitro Cultures and Secondary Metabolite Analysis of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Second Edition. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1391. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3332-7_21
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3332-7_21
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