2020, Vol. 8, Issue 5, Part B

author(s)
Chandan Kumar Singh, Md. Nizamuddin Ansari, Nidhi Kumari and Md. Naseem

abstract
A wild relatives of crop plants constitute a pool of genetic diversity which is invaluable for breeding programme. Due to environmental hazards and ruthless exploitation, there is a rapid depletion of wild flora. It is highly desirable to make systematic survey of the locality and suggested protocol for its conservation and propagation. Micropropagation technique has emerged as the best tool for mass propagation and germplasm conservation. Keeping these objectives into consideration, tissue culture studies of S. torvum were being undertaken to develop protocol for in vitro mass propagation and conservation. Sterilized segments of nodal (8-10 mm) & shoot-tip (8-10 mm) of Solanum torvum (about 2 years old) were used as explants and cultured on MS (Murashige & Skoog’s,1962) medium containing 0.8% agar, 3% sucrose and different combination and concentration of NAA / 2,4-D and Kinetin (Kn) to obtain regenerants / plantlets. Techniques were standardized for shoot regeneration directly from node and shoot-tip explants as well as from callus. Callus was in general white /greenish-white, compact, hydrated and crystalline appearance. In vitro obtained plantlets were morphologically identical to parent plants. Nodal and shoot-tip explants were superior to other explants with respect to shoot regeneration, where as nodal explants was superior for callogenesis. Work are in progress to develop protocol for isolation of active constituents of medicinal importance of S. torvum plants growing as wild species of egg plants.