Micropropagation of critically endangered medicinal plant, utleria salicifolia (bedd. ex hook.f.) bruyns

The present study aimed to develop in vitro micropropagation protocol for an endangered and highly valuable Ethnomedicinal plant, Utleria salicifolia. Micropropagation techniques applied for recovery of the selected plant species using leaf, cotyledon and node explants cultured on MS medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators. The maximum percentage of callus induction (81.1%) was observed in 1.0mg/L BA combination with 0.1mg/L Kn followed by 77.8% was recorded in 1.0mg/L 2,4-D combination with 0.1 mg/L Kn using leaf explants. The highest number of shoots (7.0shoot/explants) were observed in leaf callus explants was high in 1.0mg/L BA combination with 0.1 mg/L IAA. Indole butyric acid alone was more effective than other auxins for root development. The plantlets showed 97.5 % survival after acclimatization in soil.