Page 38 - 2020

M.Phil.
(Sciences)
IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF COMMIPHORA
WIGHTII (ARN.) BHANDARI

Ph.D. Scholar : Patel Pramitkumar N.
Research Supervisor : Dr. Kavit Mehta

Regi. No.: 18065161001
Abstract :
The extinction comes near to the plant Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari (Guggul
Plant), one the most pharmacologically and economically important slow-growing small
trees belong to a Genus Commiphora and the Burseraceae family. It is a flowering,
dioecious plant, used in ayurvedic and Unani medicine in treating various ailments and
disorders. It is commonly known as “Guggul” because of the presence of secondary
metabolites “Guggulsterone” in oleo-gum resin. The species is now listed in the Red Data
Book of IUCN because of the overexploitation of oleo-gum resin by the local population
for economic benefits with no conservation efforts. This plant has much adequate
attention on its conservation but it has not been focused yet. Conventional methods for
the propagation of Guggul Plant are; the seeds, vegetative method through stem cuttings
and air layering but they have many limitations too; seeds with slow-growing nature, poor
seed set, poor seed germination due to hard endocarp, estimated 10% of seedling
destroyed by insects and pests. Therefore, more advanced techniques involvement is
important and beneficial to overcome these difficulties. In this study, our main focus was
on micropropagation techniques. All experiments were tested several times for accuracy
purposes. For example, Nodal culture: The highest percentage of sprouting (83.3%) was
achieved in treatment BIA4 after 2-4 weeks which contains a combination of BAP (3.0
mg/l) + IAA (1.0 mg/l) in MS media, Maximum Friable, brown and Friable, Green callus
proliferation was observed from the nodal explant at 1.0 mg/l Kinetin + 1.5 mg/l 2, 4-D in
MS media. Leaf explant culture: Maximum growth of the semi-compact and light green
callus was observed at 2.0mg/l 2,4-D in MS media within 12 days of the period. Shoot
apical culture: The highest no. of shoot bud break response was observed in Kinetin (1.0
mg/l) + BAP (2.0 mg/l) in MS media within four weeks from the incubation of the explant.
An effective protocol for multiplication with the higher adaptive rate of the plant in field
conditions can open the door for many future advances like breeding, embryogenic
culture establishment, genetic transformation for resistance verities, higher production of
oleo-gum resin, pharmaceutically active compound production and many more.
Conservation efforts will require the involvement of local people and villagers. Scientific
tapping practices are also required so that the plant is not killed after tapping.
Keywords: Micro propagation, Endangered species, Guggul, Oleo-gum-resin, Medicinal
plant.

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