Developing propagation techniques for conservation of Heracleum candicans--an endangered medicinal plant of the Himalayan region

• Published in: The journal of horticultural science & biotechnology Vol. 79; no. 6; pp. 953 - 959
• Main Authors: Joshi, M, Manjkhola, S, Dhar, U
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2004
• Subjects: benzyladenine; biotechnology; endangered species; germplasm conservation; growing media; Heracleum; Heracleum candicans; Himalayan region; horticulture; in vitro culture; India; indole butyric acid; leaves; medicinal plants; methodology; micropropagation; organogenesis; peat; plant cuttings; rhizomes; rooting; roots; sand; seedling growth; seedlings; soil; vegetative propagation; India; Himalayan region
• ISSN: 1462-0316; 2380-4084; 2380-4084
• DOI: 10.1080/14620316.2004.11511872

Heracleum candicans, an endangered medicinal plant of commercial value, is subject to heavy exploitation in the wild. This paper presents findings on the effect of the growing medium (or substrate) on seedling performance, propagation from rhizome cuttings and in vitro propagation protocols. Seedlings were obtained from 14 d prechilled seeds. Seedling growth was best in a mixture of sand and soil (1:1 by volume). Cuttings taken from the terminal growing part of rhizomes resulted in 67% rooting, following treatment with 100 mg l -1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Cotyledonary leaf explants responded better (29 shoots/explant) than cotyledonary node explants for organogenesis using MS medium supplemented with 10 μM 6-benzyladenine. Of the harvested shoots 74 % rooted in MS medium supplemented with 4 μM IBA. Rooted shoots transferred to 120 g sterile soil, sand and peat mixture (1:1:1 by volume) showed 70% survival ex vitro.