Plant Regeneration via Somatic Embryogenesis in an Ethnomedicinal Plant Senna alata (L.) Roxb.

Aim: To study the effect of various plant growth regulators (PGRs) for induction of somatic embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration from cotyledon and leaflet explants in Senna alata (L.) Roxb. (Syn. Cassia alata) an important ethnomedicinal plant used in the treatment of fungal skin infections.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biotechnology, Kakatiya University, Warangal, Telangana, India, between June 2013 to September 2014.

Methodology: Cotyledon and leaflet segments (1-3 cm, 20 day old) were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L N6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) /Thidiazuron (TDZ) in combination with various concentrations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) viz., Indole acetic acid (IAA)/ α-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)/2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). The percentage of somatic embryo induction, maturation and plantlet formation is calculated.

Results: Maximum percentage of somatic embryogenesis (91%) was observed in cotyledon explants on MS medium augmented with 0.5 mg/L TDZ in combination with 3.0 mg/L NAA while the highest number of somatic embryos per explant (66.9±0.10) was formed in leaflet explants on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L BAP+3.0 mg/LNAA followed by 0.5 mg/L TDZ +3.0 mg/LNAA.

Conclusion: Among the explants tested, cotyledon explants were proved to be efficient for induction of somatic embryogenesis and plantlet development compared to leaflet explants and MS medium fortified with TDZ is more effective compared to BAP in both the cotyledon as well as leaf explants. The developed plantlets were acclimatized and transferred to the research field. The regenerated plants were found to be similar to the donor plant phenotypically.