Regeneration of plantlets via callus cultures in Celastrus paniculatus willd-a rare endangered medicinal plant^†

Plantlet regeneration in Celastrus paniculatus Willd (Celastraceae), an endangered medicinal plant has been achieved from cotyledonary leaf-derived callus. The cotyledonary leaves from mature embryo callused on MS medium supplemented with NAA (5 x 10⁻⁶ M) and Kinetin (5 x 10⁻⁶ M) with a doubling time of 16.2 days. Well developed multiple shoots of 5.6 cm could be obtained via organogenesis within 28 days on MS + BA (2 x 10⁻⁵ M). Altered shoot morphology occurred with the change in the concentration of auxins and cytokinins. Rooting (85%) of isolated shoots was achieved on McCown medium (WPM) containing IBA (5 x 10⁻⁶ M). Rooted plantlets were transferred in small pots containing sand, garden soil and vermiculite mix. The procedure can serve as a reliable and reproducible protocol for propagation and ex situ conservation of this species.