Encapsulation technology for short-term storage and germplasm exchange of Vitex trifolia L.

The current study reports the encapsulation of nodal segment of V. trifolia L. excised from 2-month-old in vitro-raised cultures for short-term conservation and propagation. The encapsulation of nodal segments was significantly affected by the concentrations of sodium alginate (Na alginate) and calcium chloride (CaCl2 2H(2)O). The best gel complex using 3 % sodium alginate and 100 mM CaCl2 2H(2)O was found most suitable for the production of ideal Ca alginate beads. Maximum percent conversion response (84.9 %) was recorded on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 5.0 mu M 6-benzyladenine (BA), 0.5 mu M alpha-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) after 6 weeks of culture. The encapsulated nodal segments could be stored at 4 degrees C up to 8 weeks with 42.5 % regeneration efficiency. Plantlets obtained were rooted best on full-strength MS medium containing 0.5 mu M alpha-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) for the production of complete plantlets. The regenerated plantlets were successfully hardened and established in field where they grew well without any detectable variation with a survival rate of 92 %. The high frequency of plant re-growth from alginate-coated nodal segments coupled with high viability percentage after 4 weeks of storage is highly encouraging for the exchange of V. trifolia genetic resources.