Efficient and rapid In vitro regeneration of Ocimum americanum l. using nodal segments

An efficient and rapid plant regeneration protocol has been developed from nodal explants of Ocimum americanum L. of family Lamiaceae. Multiple shoot proliferation was initiated from nodal explants cultured on MS medium supplemented with various concentration of 6-benzyladenine (BA) (0.5–2.0 mg/l), kinetin (KN) (0.5–2.0 mg/l) and with combinations. For callus formation explants were cultured on MS medium with 2, 4-D (0.5–2.0 mg/l). Maximum numbers of shoots (11.66±0.27) with average length (4.96±0.02) were induced on medium containing BA (0.5 mg/l) + IAA (0.50 mg/l). Repeated subculture of in vitro proliferated shoots yielded 30–35 shoots from a single nodal segment explant after 4–5 months. Developed single shoots were transferred for rooting to ½ MS medium containing IBA (1.0 mg/l) for best rooting (97.50%) of each shoot (5.08±0.15). The in vitro raised plantlets with well-developed shoots and roots were successfully established in garden soil, farm yard manure and sand (1: 1: 1) and were grown in green house with 80% survival rate.