Hormonal induction of Rooting in Catharanthus roseus (Murr.) G. Don.
U.K. Sinha1 and Rachna Prasad2
1Vice-Chancellor, Patna University, Patna (India) 2Department of Botany, Magadh Mahila College, P.U. (India)
ABSTRACT
Catharanthus roseus (Murr.) G. Don. is an important medicinal plant. It harbours a number of alkaloids. In its roots, ajmalicine, an alkaloid which cures neurological disorders is found whereas reserpine and serpentine also inhabited in its roots are powerful tranquilizers and sedative. Keeping this in view, root cultures are designed to enhance quantitatively and qualititatinely these pharmacologically significant alkaloids. Indole butyric acid (IBA), an Auxin at 0.1 mg/l concentration in culture gave the best rooting result. It gave rise to 30 – 32 healthy roots per shoot with 6.7 cm root length after 4 weeks of culturing. This emphasizes the superiority of IBA in in vitro rooting in the aforesaid plant.