In-vitro callus induction and shoot regeneration in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

In this study, multiple shoot cultures of Withania somnifera are tried to regenerate from callus of leaf, shoot tip and root explants. The present study highlights the importance of biotechnological interference in this plant in order to overcome plant-to-plant chemovariability to be used for large-scale production of drug at cost affordable levels.

This study can be utilized to develop a standard protocol to initiate multiple shoot culture of plant that may provide a good source of pharmacologically active plant constituents.

Callus culture were initiated from leaf, shoot tip and root explants on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with 2,4-D in concentration of 2 mg/l and KN in 0.2 mg/l. Shoot cultures were regenerated from these three explants and its generation capacity, length and morphology were observed. Best shooting (72%) was observed with MS medium supplemented with BA (2 mg/l) alone in case of callus obtained from shoot tip explants, after 4 week thin and long shoots with maximum length 4.15cm was recorded. The shooting response in case of callus obtained from leaf and shoot explants were found to be low. The present experiment clearly indicates that shoots differentiated best from shoot base callus on MS medium containing BA in concentration of 2 mg/l alone.