In vitro clonal multiplication of Cardiospermum halicacabum L.

A simple and efficient protocol for in vitro multiplication of mature plants of Cardiospermum halicacabum using nodal and shoot segments has been successfully developed. The stem of C. halicacabum being soft and delicate is very sensitive to physical handling and sterilization. In case of C. halicacabum extra care must be taken while selecting the explant and surface sterilizing it. Three to four shoots were initiated per auxiliary meristems on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.0 mgl/1 BAP and 0.5mgl/1 IAA within two weeks, while less numbers of shoots produced on MS medium augmented with Kinetin (KIN). Repeated transfer of the initial explants for up to five passages on MS medium with 0.5 mgl/1 BAP and KIN + 0.5 mgl/1 IAA yielded maximum numbers of shoots. Healthy and elongated shoots were rooted on 1/2 MS medium + 2.0 mgl/1 Indole-3 butyric acid (IBA). The plantlets thus obtained were successfully hardened in green house and transferred to the field