Direct regeneration of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal – A medicinal plant

Plants have been an important source of medicine for thousands of years. Medicinal plants are the most important source of life saving drugs. Even today, the WHO estimates that up to 80 per cent of people still rely mainly on traditional remedies such as herbs for their medicines. Medicinal plants are resources of new drugs. Approximately one quarter of prescribed drugs contain plant extracts or active ingredients obtained from plant substances. Medicinal plants are the most important source of life saving drugs for the majority of the world’s population. The biotechnological tools are important to select, multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants. In-vitro regeneration holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicine. An efficient protocol was developed for high frequency and rapid regeneration was achieved in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. Invitro cultures were initiated by meristematic explants on M.S–B5 medium with various growth hormones individually as well as combinations. Highest shoot multiplication rates were observed when explants grown in the medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l of BAP. M.S–B5 medium fortified with 1.0 mg/l BAP was found suitable for optimum growth and elongation of shoots. The best rooting response were observed when the medium containing 1.0 mg/l of IBA. The rooted plantlets were successfully established in soil.