IN VITRO PLANT REGENERATION OF THEVETIA NERIIFOLIA, JUSS FROM INTERNODE EXPLANTS VIA INDIRECT ORGANOGENESIS

Objective: Present study was carried out to develop an efficient in vitro protocol for micro propagation of plantlets via indirect organogenesis from internode explants of Thevetia neriifolia , a medicinal plant with immense biological potentialities. Methods: For callus induction, internodes from 4 weeks old seedlings were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with varying concentrations (0.5-2.0mg/L -1 ) of Auxins (2,4-D, IBA) and Cytokinins (KIN, BA). Results: Creamy white callus obtained initially was gradually transformed into the light green meristematic callus during subsequent subculturing in most of the combinations. The best organogenic response was achieved with a combination of IBA+BA (0.5+1.0mg/L -1 ) with 2.722±0.752 shoots per explant. Shoot initiation was induced/enhanced by transferring the non meristematic IBA+KIN calluses to the above IBA+BA medium. However, better response for maximum shoot proliferation (6.091±1.231) was achieved when cytokinin BA (1.0mg/ L -1 ) was supplied individually, with 100% efficacy. Good roots were produced in IBA (1.0mg/L -1 ) medium and the rooted plantlets were transferred to paper cups and acclimatized (72%) subsequently in green houses. Conclusion: This rapid and successful protocol for micro-propagation definitely facilitates to promote the mass cultivation of this potent medicinal plant.