Synergistic Effect of BA and mT – The Adenine Derivatives in Enhanced Regeneration of Glycyrrhiza glabra L.: A Legume of High Economic and Pharmaceutical Value

Abstract

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. belonging to the family Leguminosae is an important medicinal plant. The medicine is obtained from roots which require uprooting of the whole plant. The present study describes an efficient reproducible protocol for the regeneration of whole plantlets and successful acclimatisation in soil conditions. The nodal explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium augmented with different cytokinins; 6-(3-Hydroxybenzylamino) purine (BA), 6-Furfurylaminopurine (Kn) and meta-Topolin (mT) for the induction of adventitious shoots. The best results were obtained in a combination treatment of 2.5 μM mT and 5.0 μM BA producing a maximum of 8.03 ± 0.11 shoots. Subculture onto the optimum medium composition further enhanced the shoot formation. Augmentation of 2.5 μM Indole3-butyric acid (IBA) in MS medium proved to be optimal for the production of a maximum of 6.80 ± 0.37 roots/shoot. The plantlets were acclimatised successfully in soilrite with 90% success and exhibited normal morphology and growth when compared with the parent plant.