Rapid in vitro propagation of Clematis heynei M. A. Rau: An important<br>medicinal plant

The propagation of Clematis species has been studied for last 2-3 decades, but problems related to rooting havelimited the conventional methods to fulfil commercial needs. The present investigation describes an efficientmicropropagation protocol for Clematis heynei, an important medicinal plant. Multiple shoot production wassuccessfully achieved from axillary buds using nodes as explants. The highest organogenic response wasobtained from the nodal segments cultured on MS medium enriched with Kinetin (3 mgL-1) and indole-3-aceticacid (0.4 mgL-1). Microshoots were transferred for rooting in variety of auxins and its concentrations; in whichmaximum root induction was occurred in Indole-3-acetic acid (1 mgL-1). Through sequential hardening process,well-rooted plantlets were established in the field conditions and exhibited 88 % survival with normalmorphology and growth characteristics. This protocol is a successful and efficient biotechnological approach tothe micropropagation of C. heynei.