In vitro regeneration of Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau & R.R. Fern.

An efficient in vitro regeneration protocol was established from ex vitro leaf explants of Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau & R.R. Fern. Callus induction was achieved on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 0.7 μM N⁶benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.7 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). Around 70% calli regenerated into multiple (≃7) shoots with an average length of 6.5 mm when the same were subcultured on 0.7 μM BAP and 0.7 μM 2,4-D. Interestingly, higher (0.8–0.9 μM) or lower (0.4–0.6 μM) concentrations of BAP and 2,4-D than the optimized one (0.7 μM) resulted in reduced regeneration with fewer shoots of shorter length. For in vitro rooting of shoots, various combinations of MS with BAP, 6-furfurylaminopurine (Kn) and α-napthalene acetic (NAA) proved fruitful in comparison to MS without any plant growth regulator; though MS fortified with 3.5 μM BAP + 0.2 μM Kn + 6.8 μM NAA generated a maximum number (25.9) of in vitro roots per shoot. The regenerated plantlets were acclimatized (with ≃90% survival) in a mixture of vermiculite, soil and organic matters (1:1:1; v/v/v). The present study established a reproducible practice on in vitro organogenesis that can be suggested for large-scale clonal propagation and an alternative source of steroidal alkaloids.