In vitro and in vivo propagation of Monotheca buxifolia (Falc.) A. DC. An economical medicinal plant

Abstract Monotheca buxifolia an economic and medicinal plant is restricted to limited areas due to deforestation, overgrazing, low regeneration, slow rate of germination, unsuccessful germination from cuttings and dormancy. Hence to cope with the issue of seed dormancy various invitro and invivo experiments were designed. The accidental breaking of seed through fungi ( Rhizophus stolonifer ) is also reported for the first time in current study. Different techniques used for breaking of dormancy are mechanical, chemical treatments i.e. (priming, scarification, stratification, ethanol, sulphuric acid, organic matter treatment, hot water) and tissue culture. Seeds were treated through various experiments in field, green house and laboratory. The scarified seeds placed on Murashige and Skoog medium for proliferation and callus production was 60% proliferation. Explants (Meristematic tissues) from field and tubes were inoculated on M. S (Murashige and Skoog medium) + 2, 4-D+ Kinetin. Meristematic tissues collected from field shows 10% callus formation and meristematic tissues from tubes show significant result (70% callus formation). Our study concludes that the best suitable media for callus preparation of Monotheca is Murashige and Skoog medium. Moreover, propagation of Monotheca via cutting is not possible. Development of callus explant from test tube was found to be more promising than field. Interestingly, Rhizophus stolonifer fungi can break dormancy of Monotheca seeds and found to promote growth significantly.