Achyranthes
aspera L. is a highly valuable medicinal plant in Bangladesh, traditionally
exploited for its bioactive secondary metabolites. Over harvesting from natural
habitats necessitates the development of a reliable, large scale propagation
protocol. This study establishes an efficient, highly reproducible in vitro
seed germination and direct micropropagation pathway for A. aspera utilizing
nodal segments and shoot apices. The maximum in vitro seed germination
rate (100%) was achieved on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with
2.0 mg/l 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP) within 6-9 days. For multiple shoot buds
(MSBs) induction, shoot apices exhibited superior organogenic potential
compared to nodal segments. The highest frequency of MSBs induction (94%) and
maximum number of shoots per explant (5.10 ± 0.37) were recorded on MS medium
fortified with 2.0 mg/l BAP and 1.0 mg/l Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) within
11-14 days. Nodal segments also performed optimally under BAP influence,
yielding 4.33 ± 0.32 shoots per explant (92% induction) on MS medium with 2.0
mg/l BAP and 1.0 mg/l α-Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). For shoot elongation, MS
medium containing 1.0 mg/l BAP and 0.5 mg/l NAA facilitated the maximum
longitudinal growth (4.68 ± 0.32 cm). Vigorous in vitro rhizogenesis
(94% rooting frequency, 5.46 ± 0.20 roots per shoot, 3.98 ± 0.17 cm increased
length) was achieved on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l
Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) after 30d of culture. Successfully rooted seedlings
were acclimatized ex vitro with an 80% survival rate, displaying normal
morphological development without somaclonal variations. This optimized
protocol provides a robust foundation for the commercial cultivation,
pharmaceutical exploitation and germplasm conservation of A. aspera.
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