AVNI DAHIYA, ADHISHA DAHIYA, SUBHASH KAJLA AND NAMITA SINGH*
Department of Biotechnology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar-125 001 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: namitasingh71@gmail.com; Mobile: 94169 28883)
(Received: January 1, 2025; Accepted: February 15, 2025)
ABSTRACT
Bacopa monnieri (L.), commonly known as “Brahmi”, is an important medicinal herb from the Scrophulariaceae family, valued as a tonic for nervous disorders and mental illnesses. This study examined the impact of various plant growth regulators on the in vitro multiplication and survival of B. monnieri plants. Cultures were grown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different growth regulators–Benzylaminopurine (BAP), Kinetin (KIN), Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) used individually and in combinations. When used alone, the highest shoot numbers were observed on the 28th day with MS+BAP (0.5 mg/l) producing 6.67±0.69 shoots, MS+KIN (0.75 mg/l) with 6.33±0.58 shoots, MS+NAA (0.25 mg/l) with 5.89±0.29 shoots, and MS+IAA (1.25 mg/l) with 5.11±0.22 shoots. Increasing the concentrations of these plant growth regulators did not enhance shoot numbers. Among combinations, the best results were obtained with BAP (0.50 mg/l) + KIN (0.75 mg/l) + IAA (1.50 mg/l), yielding 8.11±0.29 shoots, followed by BAP (0.50 mg/l) + KIN (0.75 mg/l) + IAA (0.50 mg/l) with 7.22±0.11 shoots. Rooting was most effective using half-strength basal media. Well-rooted plantlets were transplanted into pots with various soil mixtures, achieving a 100% survival rate in several combinations, including sand: soil: FYM, sand: soil: vermin compost, and soil: FYM: vermin compost and coco peat: vermin compost: perlite under greenhouse conditions. Phytochemical screening of ethanolic and aqueous extracts revealed the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, steroids, glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins. This study enhanced the propagation efficiency of B. monnieri and laid the groundwork for further research in controlled and field environments.
Key words: Micro propagation, secondary metabolites, Bacopa monnieri, plant growth regulators, shoot multiplication, hardening