Micropropagation of Commiphora wightii (Arnott) Bhandari – A threatened medicinal plant of semi-arid region

A simple and efficient micropropagation method is developed for Commiphora wightii from the cotyledonary nodal segments of twenty one-day-old in vitro grown seedlings. Multiple shoots were initiated on MS medium containing IAA 0.1 mgl⁻¹, BA 1.5 mgl⁻¹ and additives consisting of 50 mgl⁻¹ ascorbic acid, 25 mgl⁻¹ each of citric acid, arginine and adenine sulfhate. The isolated shoots were multiplied on MS medium containing IAA 0.1 mgl⁻¹, BA 1.0 mgl⁻¹ and additives as in the initiation medium. Shoots were rooted on 1/2 strength MS medium containing 0.25 mgl⁻¹ IBA. The rooted plantlets were hardened and transferred to soil.