A micropropagation system for the cloning of Cissus quadrangularis-A valuable medicinal plant

Cissus quadrangularis Linn. belonging to family Vitaceae is a vulnerable medicinal plant documented in Ayurveda and Siddha systems of medicine for the treatment of a variety of diseases and disorders. It is commonly known as “Bonesetter” or “Hadjod” because of its ability to promote healing of the fractured bones. The importance of this medicinal plant brings in various challenges and opportunities associated with its large-scale production under disease free conditions. An efficient and reproducible protocol was established for in vitro clonal propagation of C. quadrangularis through forced axillary branching from nodal segments and shoot apices taken from field grown elite plant. Multiple shoot proliferation was observed on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with different cytokinins either alone or in combination with each other. Best results were, however, obtained on MS medium supplemented with zeatin (4.56 μM) where 10–12 shoots were obtained after 8 weeks of culturing. Benzylaminopurine (4.4 μM-8.8 μM) in combination with kinetin (4.65 μM) or adenine sulphate (1.35 μM) also exhibited the formation of multiple shoots from shoot apices. Regenerated shoots were rooted on full strength basal MS medium where long, well developed roots were formed in 100% cultures after 4 weeks. The plantlets were acclimatized and successfully established in the field conditions.