EFFICIENT IN VITRO REGENERATION OF MEDICINAL AQUATIC PLANT WATER HYSSOP (Bacopa monnieri L. PENNELL)

Micropropagation of medicinal plants under in vitro conditions provides an alternative for the isolation of medicinally active compounds by applying biotechnological tools. The present study reports an efficient and repeatable protocol of adventitious shoot regeneration of water hyssop (Bacopa monnieri L. Pennel) a semi aquatic plant by culturing leaf explants on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of BA and TDZ. Leaf explants responded variably to both growth regulators. Direct and indirect adventitious shoot regeneration on leaf explant was recorded on MS medium containing various concentrations of BA. Whereas, TDZ containing medium initiated shoot buds and shoot induction after the explants were transferred to MS medium. Maximum number of 26.67 and 28.25 shoots per explant was recorded on MS medium containing 2.0 mg l^-1 BA and 0.2 mg l^-1 TDZ respectively. In general, longer shoots were recorded on BA containing medium compared to TDZ containing medium. However, mean shoot length decreased with each increase in the concentration of both plant growth regulators in the culture medium. Regenerated shoots were successfully rooted on IBA containing MS medium and were acclimatized successfully in pots containing organic matter or jars containing water. Establishment of reliable, successful multiplication protocol of B. monnieri using biotechnological tools is an important step for multiple use of the plant as ornamental plant, natural water cleaner for safe environment and rapid extraction of medicinally important compounds from this important aquatic plant.