Standardization of protocol for in vitro propagation of an endangered medicinal plant Rauwolfia serpentina Benth.

The present investigation was carried out with a view to standardize an in vitro culture technique for mass propagation of an endangered medicinal plant Rauwolfia serpentinaBenth. Shoot tip was used as explant for initial culture. The explants were cultured on MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medium supplemented with different concentration and combination of NAA and BA for primary shoot proliferation. The best shoot proliferation was observed in MS medium containing 0.1 mg L-1 NAA and 2.5 mgL-1 BA, where 92% of plants showed proliferation. For rooting, half strength MS medium supplemented with 0.4 mgL-1NAA and 0.1 mgL-1 IBA showed maximum root formation (91%). After acclimatization and transplantation, 90% of the in vitro derived plants survived in ex vivo condition.   Key words: Rauwolfia serpentina, in vitro culture, naphthalene acetic acid, benzyl adenine, indole buteric acid, MS medium.