Encapsulation of nodal segments of Cassia angustifolia Vahl. for short-term storage and germplasm exchange

The present study described the encapsulation of nodal segments of Cassia angustifolia Vahl. excised from 1-month-old in vitro raised cultures for short-term conservation and propagation. Various concentrations and combinations of gelling matrix (sodium alginate) and complexing agents (calcium chloride) were tested to prepare uniform beads. The ideal beads were obtained through a combination of 3 % sodium alginate and 100 mM calcium chloride. The maximum conversion response (94 %) of encapsulated beads was obtained in Murashige and Skoog's medium (MS medium) supplemented with 2.5 mu M benzyladenine (BA) and 0.4 mu M alpha-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) after 6 weeks of culture. The encapsulated and non-encapsulated nodal segments were also stored at 4 A degrees C for different time periods (0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks). The regenerated microshoots were best rooted in optimized rooting medium that comprised half-strength MS + 1.0 mu M indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) + 5.0 mu M phloroglucinol (PG) for the production of complete plantlets. The regenerated plantlets were successfully hardened and acclimatized in natural conditions with 70 % survival rate.