Influence of Ethylene Inhibitor Silver Nitrate on Direct Shoot Regeneration from <i>in Vitro</i> Raised Shoot Tip Explants of <i>Sphaeranthus indicus</i> Linn.—An Important Antijaundice Medicinal Plant

Abstract

In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to study the influence of ethylene inhibitor silver nitrate on direct shoot regeneration in Sphaeranthus indicus , an important antijaundice medicinal plant, by using in vitro raised shoot tip explants. The effect of various concentrations of kinetin, BAP (0.5 - 3.0 mg/l), and NAA (0.1 - 0.5 mg/l) along with AgNO 3 (0.1 - 1.0 mg/l) was studied. Among the combinations tested MS medium augmented with kinetin (1.0 mg/l), NAA (0.1 mg/l) and AgNO 3 (0.4 mg/l) was found to be optimum for production of multiple shoots (34.3 ± 0.36). Addition of AgNO 3 to the media not only increases shoot number in all the concentrations tested but also shoot length. AgNO 3 at the concentration of 0.4 mg/l produced 35% more number of multiple shoots when compared to multiple shoots (10.8 ± 0.12) produced in control. In the present study by the addition of ethylene inhibitor silver nitrate and growth regulators, more number of multiple shoots (three folds) and shoot length was observed compared to control. These in vitro raised shoots were transferred to the rooting medium containing different concentrations of auxins such as NAA and IAA along with AgNO 3 (0.1 - 0.6 mg/l). Better rooting response (21.6) was observed on NAA (2.0 mg/l) and AgNO 3 (0.4 mg/l) containing media. The healthy rooted plantlets were transferred to polybags containing soil and vermiculate in 1:1 ratio for hardening. Finally the hardened plants were transferred to field environment for utmost survivability.