DIRECT ORGANOGENESIS OF A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED MEDICINAL LIANA, COSCINIUM FENESTRATUM (GAERTN.) COLEBR. (MENISPERMACEAE)

Abstract

An efficient and reproducible regeneration protocol via direct organogenesis has been established using nodal explants of Coscinium fenestratum. Nodal explants were inoculated on MS medium supplemented with BAP and TDZ at 2.0 and 1.0mg/L respectively were produced high frequency of shoots (91.01%). The elongated shoots subcultured on half strength MS medium supplemented with IBA alone at 0.6mg/L produced high frequency of roots (97.42%). Rooted plantlets were acclimatized and established in garden soil, sand and vermicompost in the ratio 1:1:1 with good survival rate under greenhouse conditions. This protocol can be efficiently used for mass multiplication and conservation of this critically endangered medicinal liana in its native habitat.