IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF POTENTILLA FULGENS HOOK (BAJRADANTI) – A HIGH VALUE MEDICINAL HERB FOR COMMERCIAL CULTIVATION

Abstract

A rapid in vitro clonal propagation protocol is standardized for Potentilla fulgens, a high value medicinal herb of Indian Himalayas. The best promising results were obtained by culturing the tender petiole segments for adventitious shoot proliferation in Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with a combination of benzyl adenine (BA, 1.5 mg/l) and indole acetic acid (IAA, 0.5 mg/l). The best rooting (92.3%) was obtained while culturing the in vitro raised shoots in MS medium modified with IAA (1.5 mg/l). Rooted plantlets were hardened in sterilized peat moss in plastic pots. Spray of quarter strength MS salts solution on alternate days is found reducing the mortality of plants considerably during the hardening process. As a result it is possible to obtain 30-35 rooted plant from a single explant within three months, and hence is useful for commercial cultivation.