Micropropagation and field evaluation of Tinospora cordifolia: an important medicinal climber

A protocol was developed for clonal propagation of Tinospora cordifolia through in vitro culture of mature nodal explants. The shoot cultures were established from nodal explants treated with mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) on MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzyladenine (BA). Among various doses of HgCl₂ and BA tested, the nodal segments treated with 0.2% HgCl₂ for 7 minutes and implanted on MS medium with 5 μM BA resulted in 100% sprouting and 66% aseptic cultures. Healthy shoots with 4 fold multiplication rate were obtained on MS medium supplemented with 5 μM BA + 150 μM glutamine. In vitro regenerated shoots inoculated on ½ MS medium enriched with 0.5 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) resulted in 100% rooting. Rooted plants were successfully hardened and transferred to the field with 100% survival which showed vigorous growth after 6 months. The developed protocol can be used for en masse propagation and conservation of T. cordifolia.