EFFECTS OF CARBENDAZIM ON IN VITRO MICROPROPAGATION AND FLOWER ING OF PEPPER ELDER HERBAL PLANT

Abstract

The present study reports on application of carbendazim for micropropagation and in vitro flowering of Pepero mia pellucida. In vitro multiplication of shoot tips and axillary nodal explants were used in 25-100 mgL-1 car bendazim in 70% alcohol treatment for 5 min in MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium and MS hormone medium The explants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with auxins, cytokinins and additives (Casin hydrolyte and glutamine) used to proliferate the shoots. The maximum number of shoots (21.5/shoot tip) were developed on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mgL-1 KIN (Kinetin) 0.5 mgL-1 NAA (α- Naphthalene acetic acid), 100 mgL-1 casein hydrolysate and 100 mgL-1 glutamine additives. The highest number of roots per shoot (17.6) and highest rooting frequency (94.2%) were obtained when the adventitious shoots were inoculated on MS medium with 1.5 mgL-1 IAA (Indole-3-acetic acid). The highest number of shoot development (75.4 %) was achieved on MS medi um supplemented with 2.0 mgL-1 KIN 2.0 + 0.5 mgL-1 ABA (Abscisic acid) with 5% sucrose. It was found that MS medium devoid of 1.5 mgL-1 IAA promote the root formation and maturation of in vitro flower in P. pellucida. Ac climatized plantlets were transferred to botanical garden and the characters compared with mother plant of P. pellucida