Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis in leaf derived callus of Plumbago rosea

Regeneration of Plumbago rosea L., a rare medicinal plant, via somatic embryogenesis in callus cultures derived from leaf explants was described. Optimum callus formation was achieved on semi-solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium,3 supplemented with 0.25 mg dm(-3) kinetin and 2.0 mg dm(-3) 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Somatic embryogenesis was achieved upon transferring the 4-week-old callus to a medium containing 1.0 mg dm(-3) kinetin (Kn), 0.5 mg dm(-3) gibberellic acid (GA(3)) and 0.1 mg dm(-3) NAA. Embryo maturation and germination was achieved on the half-strength MS basal salts supplemented with 0.01-0.25 mg dm(-3) Kn and 2% (m/v) saccharose. An average of 50-60 plantlets were obtained from 150 mg of embryogenic callus within 4 week of subculture. Out of the 50 plantlets about 28 survived in the greenhouse.