In Vitro Propagation of Datura Quercifolia Plant - IJGHC

InVitro...Eefa Manzoor and Bilal Ahmad BhatShoot tips cultured on MS (1/2x) + BAP (2.5 µM) showed initiation of shoots followed by stuntedgrowth pattern. Initiation of multiple shoots also took place on MS (1/2x) + BAP (5 µM) +NAA (5µM) which also was followed by stunted growth pattern. However a combination of 2,4-D (5 µM) +BAP (10 µM) resulted in multiple shoot formation and its subsequent elongation.The relevance and significance of different seed treatments for breaking dormancy and improvingseed germination is well known 5 . Treatments such as soaking before sowing, seed coat puncturing,scarification, acid wash, chilling, GA 7 .During the present investigation of Datura quercifolia it is observed that unchilled seeds subjected toscarification showed 50% germination and survival in light. In complete darkness 33% seeds recordedgermination. Beigh et al. 6 obtained 50% germination in scarified seeds of Podophyllum hexandrumnot subjected to any chilling. Similar results were also obtained by Andrabi 7 in scarified seeds ofAtropa acuminata kept in ordinary light. Further, unchilled seeds of Datura quercifolia subjected toacid wash showed 50% germination. In similar studies carried out by Bisht and Kediyal 8 on Atropabelladona seeds treated with sulphuric acid (75%) followed by sodium hydroxide (30%) recordedseed germination.Unchilled seeds of Datura quercifolia were scarified followed by 48 h dip in GA 3 (200 ppm). Bestresults (87%) were recorded in seeds treated with GA 3 (200ppm) in ordinary light .50% germinationwas recorded in seeds kept in complete darkness.Similar results were obtained in Atropa belladonna seed germination studies carried out byAndrabi 7 . The effect of pre-chilling followed by seed coat scarification showed best results (60%germination) in 48h chilled seeds in light. This was followed by 20% germination in seeds chilled for48h in complete darkness. 72h pre-chilling followed by seed coat scarification resulted in 16% seedgermination in light and 13% in complete darkness. It is observed that scarification together withother treatments do selectively influence seed germination. In present study maximum shoot numberwas obtained on MS enriched with 2,4-D (5 µM) + BAP (10 µM) using shoot tips as explants. Theseresults reveal that the behaviour of regeneration phenomenon shown by the plant is more or lesssimilar to other medicinal plants like Artemisia pallens 9 and Dioscorea floribunda 10 .CONCLUSIONOur study, conducted to explore the possibility of in vitro propagation of Datura quercifolia, amedicinally important plant. The preliminary tissue culture study carried out showed that this planthas a potential for in vitro propagation and plantlet regeneration. Individual treatments and treatmentcombinations variedly influenced the germination of seeds in Datura quercifolia. Seed coat removalwas an effective treatment for inducing germination. Seed scarification followed by a GA 3 (200ppm)treatment for 48 hours seems to be very effective where in rapid 87% germination was observed. Inour study good shoot response was observed on various BAP + 2, 4-D combinations. Multiple shootregeneration from shoot apices was recorded on BAP (2.5 µM) and BAP (10 µM) + 2,4D (5 µM).Similar reports of multiple shoot regeneration in shoot tip cultures of Lavandula officinalis on variousBAP concentrations and combinations has been recorded by Tyub et al (2004). In conclusion presentinvestigation forms an important preliminary step for breaking seed dormancy and inducing rapidseed germination in Datura quercifolia and its subsequent micro propagation. Extension of thesestudies will prove highly beneficial for future strategies in tissue culture studies for propagation of thisplant.304 IJGHC; March2013 -May 2013, Vol.2, No.2, 301-305.