In Vitro Micropropagation of Dictyospermum ovalifolium Wight. A Rare and Endemic Plant in Western Ghats, India

Tissue culture techniques have been established as a useful approach for ex-situ conservation of rare, endemic or threatened plant species. This paper describes the micropropagation of Dictyospermum ovalifolium (Commelinaceae) an endangered plant species endemic to the Western Ghats region of Karnataka as a conservation measure. Nodal segments and shoot tips of Dictyospermum ovalifolium were used as explants for in vitro culture establishment. The best rate of shoot proliferation was obtained on Murashige and Skoog�s (MS) medium supplemented with 3 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine. In vitro rooting of shoots was induced after 4 weeks on MS medium supplemented with 1mg/l indole 3-accetic acid and 2-mg/l indole 3-butyric acid. Rooted plantlets were successfully transferred to their original habitat.