Micropropagation of Acmella calva (DC.) R.K. Jansen (Asteraceae) from in vitro nodal explants

MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium supplemented with kinetin (1.16 μM) was found to be the best medium for multiple shoots induction from in vitro nodal explants. The in vitro nodal explants produced callus on MS medium supplemented with 2, 4-D at all concentrations. The shoot initiation frequency was 100% on MS supplemented with IAA(Indole-3-acetic acid; 1.45μM) and NAA (Naphthaleneacetic acid; 1.34 μM and 5.38 μM) individually. Multiple shoot induction was delayed, the shoot induction frequency was lower and the number of multiple shoots per explants also decreased when the in vitro nodal explants were inoculated on MS medium supplemented with combinations of BA (6-benzyladenine) and IAA. The nodal explants required a minimum of 11 days for multiple shoot induction on MS medium supplemented with BA (1.11μM) and IAA (1.45μM)