High-Frequency direct regeneration of Woodfordia fruticosa (Linn.)Kurz, A valuable ayurvedic herb

The present study deals with high frequency micropropagation studies of an ayurvedic medicinal plant, Woodfordia fruticosa (Linn.) Kurz. Dhatki also known as the Fire Flame bush due to its beautiful red flowers. It has danger to be rare in near future due to exploitation for ayurvedic medicines. Shoot tip explants were inoculated on solid MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of cytokinins like BAP and Kinetin and auxins alone and in combinations. Synergistic effects of cytokinins and auxins were studied on the direct regeneration through shoot tip. Most significant results were achieved in MS medium fortified with BAP (2.0 mu M) with 52 shoots per explant. 1/2 MS medium supplemented with IBA (5.0 mu M) and 3% sucrose resulted in maximum number of roots. The complete plantlets were hardened and transferred to the green house after two weeks with survival rate of 70%.