Division of Plant Tissue Culture, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants P.O.: R.S.M. Nagar, Lucknow-226016, (V.P.).
* CIMAP Communication No. 92–41J.
Callus cultures of Nardostachys jatamansi DC (Family Valerianaceae) were established from petiole explants on a MS basal medium, supplemented with 3.0 mg/l α-naphathaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.25 mg/s kinetin (kn). Somatic embryogenesis was evident when the callus was sequentially subcultured through a series of media with gradually decreasing levels of auxin (from 3.0 mg/l down to 0.25 mg/l NAA) and a concomittant but gradual increase in the levels of cytokinin (from 0.25 mg/l to 2.0 mg/l in combination with 2.0 mg/l level of kn over a period of seven months. Fully developed somatic embryos were obtained when the concentration of NAA was reduced upto 0.25 mg/l in combinatlon with 2.0 mg/l level of kn. The formation of plantlets via somatic embryogenesis in Nardostachys jatamansi is important in context with the conservation of this endangered medicinal and aromatic herb of the wet and high Himalayan ranges.
