In vitro mass production of Solanum surattense Burm. f. - A medicinal plant through seed culture

Aim: An efficient, reproducible protocol for multiple shoot induction and plantlet establishment was achieved through seed culture in Solanum surattense Burm. f. (Indian Solanum) an important medicinal herb. Methods: Seeds of S. surattense were germinated on MS (Murashige and Skoog’s) medium supplemented with different concentrations of BAP (6-Benzylaminopurine 0.5 - 3mg/L). Results: Maximum number of multiple shoot formation (31.83±0.53) was observed on MS medium containing 2.5 mg/L BAP. The highest percentage of germination was also recorded at the same concentration of BAP withan average number of 5 days for seed germination. When 2-4 shoots were subcultured on fresh medium containing 2.5 mg/L BAP, continual enhancement in shoot production was observed for every subculture. Themicroshoots were rooted on MS medium supplemented with 1.0mg/L IAA (Indole-3- Acetic Acid). The regenerants were acclimatized and the survival percentage was found to be 70% with normal flowering andfruiting. Conclusion: The present protocol can be used for in planta transformation using Agrobacterium tumefaciens to introduce gene(s) of interest.