In vitro propagation through axillary bud culture of Swertia chirata Buch.-Ham ex Wall: an endangered medicinal herb

An efficient procedure for in vitro propagation of Swertia chirata has been developed. Axillary shoot bud multiplication was achieved employing nodal segments as explant. A combination of BAP 4.44 µM + IAA 2.85 µM + Ads 271.45 µM proved to be the best giving 11.8 fold multiplication with average shoot length 1.9 cm after 4 wks and 18.5 fold multiplication with mean shoot length shoot length 2.6 cm after 8 wks. Best rooting (92%) with maximum mean number of roots per shoot 35.3 after 4 wks, 37.5 after 8 wks and maximum average root length 2.8 cm after 4 wks and 2.9 after 8 wks was observed on 1/2 strength MS medium supplemented with IBA 4.90 µM. Regenerated plantlets with well developed shoots and roots were acclimatized successfully.