Abstract
The use of meta-Topolin (mT) in tissue culture has been conducted on several plant species and showed very effective results. The present study was carried out using MS media supplemented with different concentrations of BAP + AdSO4 and meta-Topolin alone to standardize a viable protocol for micropropagation and to compare the effect of different phytohormones for fast and efficient multiplication, total chlorophyll content and protein estimation of W. somnifera through tissue culture by using shoot tip and nodes as explants. For rooting, IBA was used to get a healthy and advantageous root system. Comparatively, in all contexts, 2.5 mg/l mT showed better result with bud breaking percentage of 88.9 ± 0.42%, rate of shoot multiplication of 22.4 ± 4.16 shootlets per explant, Total chlorophyll content of 0.887 ± 0.004 mg/g and protein content 25.67 ± 0.25%. IBA (2.0 mg/l) resulted in a healthy advantageous root system to the shootlets. Upon transfer, overall 80% of plants survived during hardening which was initially treated with mT. Treatment with MS media supplemented with 1.0 mg/l BAP + 50 mg/l AdSO4 resulted in bud breaking percentage 61.1 ± 0.09%, rate of shoot multiplication 15.8 ± 7.81 shootlets per explant, total chlorophyll contents 0.7194 ± 0.0055 mg/g and protein contents 23.33 ± 0.25%. Upon hardening, 78% of plantlets survived during hardening which was initially treated with BAP + AdSO4. Therefore, mT may be used as an alternative source of cytokinin for obtaining a higher rate of plant regeneration in W. somnifera.