Auxiliary bud proliferation and multiplication of medicinally important plant Catharanthus roseus (L) G. Don through internodal tissue culture

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don (Apocynaceae) is native to Indian Ocean Island and found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. It is commonly called as Madagascar periwinkle and given immense importance for its attributed therapeutic properties. In this study, an efficient protocol was developed for in vitro propagation of Vinca rosea L. via nodal tissue explants. The explants were decontaminated and inoculated on to the Murashige and Skoog’s media (pH 5.8) supplemented with various concentrations of benzyl amino purine (1.0-3.5 mg/ml) and Kinetin (1.0-3.5 mg/ml) single and in combinations. The cultures were incubated at 25?C ± 2?C, 16-h photoperiod (16: 8) of cool-white fluorescent tubes (PPF 45 mmol•m–2•s–1) and 55- 60% relative humidity. The data analysis was carried out using SAS V.9.0 software following Student‘t’ test. Shoot formation capacity was noticed Murashigee and Skoog media with concentrations of BAP (Benyl amino purine) and KN (Kinetin). The highest number of shoots was observed with nodal segments that were maintained BAP+IAA (2.3 + 0.6 mg/L) and showed 95 % shoot initiation response. The results are expressed in SEM values and P< 0.5 is considered. The study concludes that, the nodal segments of C. roseus cultivated on MS mediam supplemented with 2.3 mg/L BAP and 0.7 mg/L IAA was found best choice for shoot multiplication.