Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Gloriosa superba L.: An endangered medicinal plant

Abstract

Gloriosa superba L. is an endangered ornamental medicinal plant which is in great demand for pharmaceutical use. Thus, there is overexploitation of this important species in cancer treatments due to its important alkaloid colchicine content. The development of efficient protocol for indirect organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis is necessary for its conservation. In vitro propagation was standardized using MS medium supplemented with various hormone concentrations and combinations of BAP (3 mg/l). The maximum shoot regeneration was 28 days, whereas prolonged duration of shoot in the medium leads to the development of micro tubers. The regenerated shoots were transferred to root induction medium supplemented with BAP + NAA (5 ± 0.81); development occurred in 34 days. The somatic embryogenesis showed high frequency of cell suspension culture in different cytokines such as BAP and KIN. The maximum numbers of somatic embryos were significantly highest in liquid MS medium containing BAP 2 mg/l (23.25 ± 0.95). The plantlets were successfully acclimatized into the greenhouse conditions. This protocol provides a system for very large-scale propagation and leads to the development and conservation of plants.