High root biomass production in auxin-supplemented cultures of Withania somnifera (Dunal)

Abstract

Plants remain as indispensable source for a number of chemicals substances that are difficult to synthesize chemically owing to complicated structures. For the various reasons, the cultured ceil and organs of higher plants are preferred over the conventional source for a wide range of secondary metabolites. In the present study root biomass cultures of Withania somnifera were established from cotyledonary leaf explants on solid MS medium supplemented with auxins (NAA, IBA and IAA). IBA at 3.0 mg/l induced highest number of roots under total dark conditions. Fresh root segments (?200±10mg) were sub cultured on liquid medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l IBA, under continuous agitation at 110 rpm in total dark conditions. The biomass of root cultures increased from (?200±10mg) to 6.2±0.6g after a culture period of 6-7 weeks. © 2008 Society for Biology and Biotechnology.