Micropropagation of Spilanthes acmella Murr.

ultiple shoots of Spilanthes acmella Murr. were induced from hypocotyl segments obtained from 1-week-old seedlings on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium containing benzyladenine (BA), isopentenyl adenine, and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). High frequency shoot proliferation (95 %) and maximum number of shoots per explant (10 +/- 0.6) were recorded with 0.5 mg dm(-3) BA in combination with 0.1 mg dm(-3) NAA. A proliferation was achieved by repeatedly subculturing the nodal segments on shoot multiplication medium. About 95 % of the in vitro shoots developed roots after transfer to half strength MS medium containing indole-3-butyric acid (1.0 mg dm(-3)). 95 % of the plantlets were successfully acclimatized and established in soil. Transplanted plantlets showed normal flowering without any morphological variation.