Development of an efficient in vitro propagation protocol for Satureja punctata - A rare aromatic and medicinal plant

Satureja punctata is an important aromatic and medicinal plant in Lamiaceae family. This plant is threatened mainly due to overgrazing, deforestation, over harvesting of the whole plant for medicinal purpose. This study was aimed to develop an efficient in vitro propagation protocol for S. punctata using shoot tips. Shoots excised from in vitro germinated seedlings were used as mother plant for culture induction on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP) and Kinetin (KIN). Highest shoot induction frequency (100%) with highest mean number (8.25 +/- 1.64) of shoot per explant was obtained at 0.5 mg/L BAP. In multiplication media, among different concentrations of BAP, KIN, BAPxK1N and KINxNAA (alpha-Naphthalene acetic acid), BAP x NAA found to be an optimum concentration with (26.20 +/- 2.71) mean number of shoots. The best shoot height (2.48 +/- 0.13 cm) was achieved on growth regulators free medium, which was used as control. Half strength MS medium containing different concentrations of Indole-3- butyric acid (IBA), Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and NAA were used for root induction. The highest rooting percentage (100%), root number (5.90 +/- 0.48) and root length (1.55 +/- 0.11 cm) were attained in the presence of 1.0 mg/L IBA. Up on acclimatization, 97.5% survived plants were recorded. The results demonstrated that, this study was very important for mass propagation and ultimate conservation of this valuable plant.