Meta-topolin induced morphometric and structurally stable bulblets in Malabar River Lily (Amaryllidaceae)

The current investigation revealed a highly proficient and reproducible method for comprehensive in vitro regeneration and structural differentiation of bulblets in Crinum malabaricum Lekhak & Yadav using meta-topolin mT; 6-(3-hydroxybenzylamino) purine] 6-benzylaminopurine] for the first time. Cultures were established from twin scales explants using optimized sterilization method and growth regulators for regeneration of in vitro plantlets. It was observed that mT at 2.0 mg L^?1 was the main factor involved in direct bulblets formation from the basal plate, and the highest mean number of bulblets per twin scale explant was 26 within 8 weeks. On maturation, the bulblets were rooted simultaneously on the mT containing medium. Regenerated plantlets were acclimatized with a 100% survival rate after 8 weeks. Light microscopic examination of bulblet scales/cataphylls was done to characterize the in vitro bulblets developed from mT and BAP containing media. The bulblet scales differed in quantitative traits of tissue systems, and the meta-topolin derived bulblets represented well differentiated dermal, ground and vascular tissues. The results obtained may provide a new tool to improve the production of pharmaceutically important compounds (viz. galanthamine) in bulblets and give the guarantee of survival of plants under natural conditions which can reaffirm the conservation measure of this critically endangered medicinal plant.