Micropropagation of Barleria prionitis L. var. dicantha: an ethnomedicinal plant

Barleria prionitis var. dicantha Blatt & Hallb is an important endemic, ethno medicinal plant of Rajasthan, commonly known as Vajaradanti. It is especially well known for its antidontalgic properties. It is a rich source of glycosides, steroids, tannins and flavonoids. Natural habitat loss due to urbanization, high habitat specificity and exploitation for medicinal values places considerable pressure on native population of this endemic endangered plant. There is a need for development of non-conventional methods for propagation and conservation of B. prionitis var. dicantha. The present study was undertaken with the aim to set up a protocol for in vitro propagation of this medicinally important plant. For this, nodal segments were obtained from in vitro raised seedling on half strength MS medium supplemented with 2.88 µM GA3. For axillary bud break, nodal segments were inoculated on different concentrations of BA, Kn or TDZ supplemented MS medium. Maximum (75.5%) bud break was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 8.88 µM BA + additives with an average of 3.82±0.13 shoots explant-1 and 1.74±0.08 cm shoot length. The elongated shoots were excised from mother plant and further multiplied on MS medium supplemented with 4.44 µM BA. For rooting in vitro raised shoots were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations IBA or IAA. The maximum rooting was 75.5% obtained on 2.46 µM IBA with 4±0.13 roots explant-1 and 3.44±0.04 cm root length. The in vitro raised plantlets were successfully hardened and acclimatized in polybags at shade house