In vitro micropropagation of Basella rubra L. through proliferation of axillary shoots.

In vitro micropropagation protocol for Basella rubra regeneration was tried through proliferation of axillary shoots of the
potted mature plant. The improved seed germination (70%) was recorded upon 2% urea treatment. The nodal shoot segments
from matured potted plant were used to initiate the multiple shoot proliferation. The shoot segments exhibited 70% shoot
initiation when cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)+N6 – Benzylaminopurine (BAP) (0.25+2.0 mg/L) and BAP+Kinetin (Kin) (2.0+0.5 mg/L) respectively. Multiple shoots (5–6) were
obtained on MS medium supplemented with BAP+Kin and IAA+BAP respectively. When compared with silver nitrate
(AgNO3) (2–40 µM) and activated charcoal (AC) (0.1–1.0%), the MS medium devoid of any plant growth regulator showed
good number of shoots (5.48±2.42), elongation (15.64±2.42 cm) and root length (14.52±2.78 cm). Upon transferring
of regenerated microshoots to MS medium, simultaneous elongation of shoots with more shoot number, shoot length and
rooting was achieved during four subcultures that carried out at 6 weeks’ interval. The regenerated in vitro shoots showed
100% rooting in MS medium and also in MS medium supplemented with 0.1–1.0% AC. Hundred percent survival of micropropagated shoots well rooted was established successfully under greenhouse condition and the plants were subsequently
acclimatized and transferred to the feld conditions wherein 90% success rate was noted.