Rapid in vitro multiplication of Drosera burmanii Vahl.: A vulnerable and medicinally important insectivorous plant

Abstract

A protocol has been stardardised for the rapid and large-scale in vitro multiplication of the vulnerable medicinal herb, Drosera burmanii Vahl. by enhanced axillary bud proliferation from shoot tip explants. In order to standardize in vitro multiplication, the effects of different strengths of Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium (1/4, 1/3, 1/2, and full strength), different percentages of sucrose (1%, 2% and 3%), various pH (3.7, 4.7, 5.7 and 6.7) and MS basal medium fortified with different concentrations of kinetin (Kn) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg L⁻¹ ) were tried on shoot tip explants. Maximum number of multiple shoots developed on MS medium supplemented with Kn (1.0 and 2.0 mg L⁻¹) and BAP (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg L⁻¹) separately. Direct plantlet regeneration from the leaves and in vitro flowering were also observed. Rooting was best achieved on MS basal medium. This protocol could be useful for large-scale production of biomass for quercetin, plumbagin bioprospection and long term in vitro conservation.