Somatic Embryogenesis of Caralluma sarkariae Lavranos & Frandsen-An Important Medicinal Plant

An efficient procedure has been developed for inducing somatic embryogenesis from mature internodes of Caralluma sarkariae an important medicinal plant. Internodal explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with picloram 2.0 mg/l was very effective in inducing somatic embryos. Globular stage embryos developed on induction medium containing picloram 2.0 mg/l. These embryos developed into torpedo and cotyledon stage embryos upon sub culture on medium containing MS salts + B₅ vitamins + BAP 2.0 mg/l + 2-iP 1.0 mg/l + NAA 0.5 mg/l with 3% sucrose. About 100 mg of callus induce more than 100 embryos. Embryo germination and plantlet formation was achieved by sub culturing mature embryos on fresh sub culturing medium (MS salts + B₅ vitamins + BAP 2.0 mg/l + 2-iP 1.0 mg/l + NAA 0.5 mg/l). The plantlets were acclimatized under field conditions with 75% survival. This simple regeneration system through somatic embryogenesis may be beneficial for mass propagation of Caralluma sarkariae.