ABSTRACT
The study being the first of its kind established an efficient protocol for micropropagation of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, an important endangered medicinal plant species, used in the treatment of Malaria. For shoot induction, semi hard wood nodal segments were maintained on MS (Murashige and Skoog) nutrient medium supplemented with MS vitamins, 30 g/L sucrose, 3% gelrite and various auxin and cytokinin combinations. Treatments involved 6-benzyladenine (BA) at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 or 3.0 mg/L in combination with 0.1 mg/L Indole 3-butyric acid (IBA) or Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Control consisted of hormone free MS medium. BA and IBA combinations were found to be more efficient in shoot regeneration than the BA and NAA combinations. Cultures maintained on MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/L BA, in combination with 0.1 mg/L IBA recorded the highest shoot induction (100%), mean shoot length (1.28 cm) and mean number of nodes per explant (2.5). This, however, did not differ significantly from cultures maintained on 2 or 2.5 mg/L BA and 0.1 mg/L IBA supplemented MS medium. Regenerated shoots were transferred onto different media for root induction. Treatments consisted of full strength MS medium augmented with either 0.5 or 0.1 mg/L IBA, hormone free half strength MS medium and half strength MS medium augmented with 0.01 mg/L IBA. After six weeks of culture, no rooting was recorded in all treatments with the exception of half strength MS medium supplemented with 0.01 mg/L IBA, which recorded 60% rooting. Regenerated plantlets were successfully weaned and established in the greenhouse.