Abstract

This study demonstrates a rapid, economic and efficient plantlet regeneration protocol for an exotic ornamental and medicinal plant  Allamanda cathartica L. by using shoot tip explants. Interaction of various PGRs (mT, IAA, IBA or NAA) and sucrose was tested in MS medium to obtain maximum shoot regeneration from shoot tip explants. mT (3.0 µM) + NAA (0.5 µM) + 4% sucrose was found to be an optimum combination for maximum shoot proliferation with 20.80 mean shoot number and 7.60 cm mean shoot length after 12 weeks of culture based on 93.20% responsive explants. Microshoots (4-5 cm) showed maximum rhizogenic response as they produced 4.20 mean root number with 4.90 cm root length after 4 weeks of culture on ½ MS medium when supplemented with 0.5 µM NAA. Well-developed rooted plantlets were acclimatized successfully with a 96% survival rate. The primary phytochemical screening of aqueous leaf extract in the regenerants revealed the presence of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, phenols, proteins, and saponins. Quantification of phytochemical constituents showed that the amount of phenols was highest, followed by lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, saponins and alkaloids in the micropropagated plants. These phyto-constituents are known to cure numerous ailments.