Miss J. R Naidoo
Title: Development of an in vitro propagation protocol for Pycnostachys urticifolia Hook., a South African medicinal plant.
Biography
Biography: Miss J. R Naidoo
Abstract
Overharvesting of medicinal plants for traditional and commercial use is an increasing conservation concern. Micropropagation of these plants is a necessary measure for both conservation and exploitation of therapeutic phytocompounds. This study aimed to develop a novel and efficient micropropagation protocol for Pycnostachys urticifolia Hook. It further aimed to compare the micromorphology and trichome density between micropropagated and field grown leaves. Successful decontamination of axillary buds was achieved using 3% NaClO and 0.1% HgCl2 for 10 minutes each. Explants were placed on MS media containing cytokinins [0.5 ml/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.5 ml/l 6-furfurylaminopurin (kinetin)] with auxins [0.5 ml/l indole-acetic acid (IAA) and 0.5 ml/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)] for bud break and multiplication in 1:1 and 2:1 ratios, respectively. Successful bud break was achieved on MS medium containing kinetin and IAA yielding 2.94 ± 0.42 shoots per explant after 2 weeks. Significant shoot proliferation of 2.88 ± 0.33 shoots per explant was achieved after 2 weeks on media containing kinetin (2 mg/l) and IAA (1 mg/l). Shoots were rooted on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/l IAA, resulting in 77% rooting after 3 weeks. Plantlets were subsequently acclimatized for 1 month in a mist tent, resulting in 82% survival. Micropropagated leaves presented a greater density of non-glandular and glandular trichomes compared to field grown leaves. Hence, greater quantities of potentially therapeutic compounds can be harvested from micropropagated leaves of P. urticifolia. Future work should investigate the differences in the phytochemical profiles of leaf extracts from in vitro and field grown plants.