Somatic embryogenesis and callus proliferation in Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex. Benth

Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex. Benth is an endangered and important medicinal plant of alpine Himalayas. Developing an efficient protocol for its mass multiplication is essential to meet the requirements of pharmaceutical industries and also in conservation of this plant under its natural habitat. Present study was undertaken to develop a protocol for in vitro mass multiplication of P. kurroa. Result of study revealed that highest frequency of shoot regeneration was achieved on Murashige and Skoog's basal medium supplemented with 1.0mg/l BAP, 0.5 mg/l Kn and 1.0mg/l GA3, while the best rooting was observed in MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/l IBA. MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/l 2,4-D resulted in highest frequency of embryogenic callus. Callus inoculated on MS media supplemented with BAP and IAA resulted in both shoot and root formation while the callus on MS media supplemented with NAA and IBA resulted only root formation. The somatic embryos were established from callus on MS medium supplemented 2.5 mg/l 2,4-D after four weeks. MS medium containing 1.0 mg/l BAP and 1.0 mg/l GA3 resulted into shoots from well developed somatic embryos. This protocol will provide a system for the germplasm conservation in P. kurroa by multiplication and regeneration of true to type plants.