In vitro propagation and assessment of genetic fidelity of Blepharispermum subsessile DC.: an endangered medicinal plant of India

Blepharispermum subsessile is an important threatened medicinal plant of India. This plant has been enlisted in ‘endangered’ category in different states of India due to over-exploitation and unregulated trading. Thus, urgent attention is needed for its conservation. This study presents an efficient in vitro plant propagation protocol for B. subsessile using axenic shoot tip and confirmation of genetic fidelity of the regenerated plants. Axenic shoot tips were inoculated on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators for shoot multiplication. Highest number of shoots per explant (48.1) were found on MS medium augmented with 3.0 mgl⁻¹ meta Topolin (mT) and 1.5 mgl⁻¹ Zeatin (Z). Ninety-five percent in vitro shoots were rooted on ½ MS medium augmented with 0.5 mgl⁻¹ Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). All rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized and about 70% plants survived. The genetic fidelity of in vitro propagated plants was assessed by ISSR markers and confirmed their genetic integrity with that of the mother plant. This study could be used for conservation of B. subsessile.