In vitro and ex vitro rhizogenesis studies in Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia Serpentina L.)

Abstract

Rauwolfia serpentina L., is a widely used medicinal woody herb species listed as endangered due to overharvesting by the pharmaceutical sector. This misuse has led to a reduction in the species population, placing it at risk. Thus, the development of nonconventional methods for sarpagandha conservation is vitally needed. The purpose of this experiment was to assess the rooting efficiency of in vitro grown shoots using in vitro and ex vitro rooting method. A rooting efficiency of 96.67% was achieved in vitro propagated shoots, with an average of 5.17 roots per shoot, when cultured on one-fourth strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium augmented with 2.0 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The highest ex vitro rooting was reported on soilrite and cocopeat (1:3) when the shoots were dipped in 200 mg/l of indole-3 butyric acid for 30 minutes. Plantlets that were rooted both in vitro and ex vitro showed 60 percent and 70 percent survival rates after being successfully hardened in the greenhouse.