PROPAGATION STRATEGIES OF TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS L. A PORTENTOUS MEDICINAL PLANT EMPLOYING TISSUE CULTURE TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

A protocol for micropropagation of Tribulus terrestris, an important medicinal herb was established using juvenile explants viz., leaf, node and internode. All the explants were tested for callus induction on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium, supplemented with BAP, NAA and 2,4-D. Among the three explants leaf explant responded well (98%) for the callus induction in the MS medium composted with BAP and NAA (4.0 and 0.5 mg/L) followed by the nodal segments (58.75%) in the same medium. Maximum number of shoot induction from the callus of leaf derived explants (91.1%) was perceived on MS medium fortified with BAP 4.0 mg/L and NAA (0.5 mg/L). Moreover, root elongation and profuse rooting percentage (77.19%) were achieved when the well-grown shoots were cultured on MS media supplemented with IAA (2.0 mg/L) for leaf callus derived shoots. The regenerated plantlets were hardened and established at 80% survival rate in hardening media encompassed with red soil, sand and vermicompost in the ratio of 1:1:1 by volume.