An efficient micropropagation of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook F & Thorns: A NMPB prioritized medicinal plant

An efficient plant regeneration protocol was developed through direct organogenesis in T. cordifoila, a National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) prioritized medicinal plant. Mature in vivo nodal explants were used for optimal development of multiple shoots in vitro. Maximum number of shoots per nodal explant (7.9 +/- 0.45) with the highest shoot length (9.3 +/- 0.48 cm) was developed on MS medium supplemented with N6-benzyladenine (4. 44 mu M) in combination with N6-2-iso-pentenyl adenine (2.45 mu M). During the shoot multiplication, leaching of phenolics was observed and to avoid this, different adjuvants (activated charcoal, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and ascorbic acid) were used. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone at 1.0% in combination with optimized hormones when incorporated in MS medium, phenolic secretion was controlled successfully. The highest % response of rooting (89%) with 8.3 +/- 0.46 cm root length was observed on 1/2 strength MS medium augmented with indole butyric acid (2.45 mu M). Complete plantlets were transferred to earthen pots containing a mixture of autoclaved garden soil and cocopeat (2:1) and then shifted to the culture chamber for further hardening and acclimatization. Plants after acclimatization survived well in nature.