Abstract

Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br., commonly called as “Akra” belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae. It is a common xerophytic plant which is widely distributed in Asia, Africa and Northeast of  Brazil. C. procera has a long history of usage in traditional medicines due to the presence of wide range of medicinally important chemical compounds which includes cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids. Back in the history Hindu physicians used secretions and extracts from different parts of C. procera (root, root bark, leaves, flowers and latex) as a remedy for different ailments and this account poses an image of C. procera as ‘single cure of various sufferings’. In present study the response of axillary bud explants varied in season of collection of explants. The axillary explants collected in the winter season (November to January) showed best response and about 80% explants were achieved surface sterilized on 0.1% HgCl2 for 6-7 minutes. In present investigation BAP 13.32 µM in MS semisolid medium was found optimum for in vitro regeneration of 6-7 shoots in 96-97 % of aseptically inoculated explants with 7-6 cm length in a period of 3-4 weeks. IBA (4.92 µM) in MS ½ strength medium was found optimum for regeneration of 5-6 fast growing (12.9 cm) roots in 92-93 % micro-shoots in a period of 16-18 days.

Keywords: Calotropis procera, axillary bud explants, plant growth regulators, plant regeneration, multiplication.