Direct somatic embryogenesis and synthetic seed production from Tylophora indica (burm.f.) Merrill an endangered, medicinally important plant

Abstract

An efficient reproducible system for direct somatic embryogenesis from in vitro propagated leaf explants of Tylophora indica have been developed using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with BA (6-benzylaminopurine), NAA (?-napthaleneacetic acid) and Kinetin (6-furfurylaminopurine) alone or in combination. The induced embryos were used for the synthetic seed production. The main objective of present investigation is to introduce the artificial seed technology for Tylophora indica. The highest induction frequencies of somatic embryos were obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with NAA 1.0 mg L-1 and kinetin 2 mg L-1 and 3% sucrose. The induced somatic embryoids showed all the stages of embryogenesis i.e., globular, heart and torpedo shaped structures. Sub-culturing of mature embryos lead to their germination on MS medium supplemented with NAA 1.0 mg L-1 and kinetin 2 mg L-1 with a germination frequency of 77.2%. Somatic embryos obtained directly on leaf explants were used for encapsulation in MS and 1/2 MS medium containing different concentrations of sodium alginate. The encapsulated somatic embryos are subsequently germinated into plantlets. A 3% sodium alginate dissolved in 1/2 MS medium provided a uniform encapsulation of the embryos with survival and germination frequencies 22.4% and plant conversion 6.8%. A synthetic seed technology significantly offers an excellent scope for propagation of rare hybrids, elite genotypes and genetically engineered plants. These systems could be useful for the rapid clonal propagation and dissemination of synthetic seed material of Tylophora indica. © 2011 Asian Network for Scietific Information.