Plant regeneration on cultured root segments of Cephaelis ipecacuanha A. Richard.

Simple one step micropropagation system for Cephaelis ipecacuanha A. Richard was developed using root cultures grown in vitro. Adventitious shoots were directly formed on the cut end of root segments without callus formation, on phytohormone-free B5 solid medium in the dark. When the shoots attached with root segments were further cultured under 16 h light / 8 h dark, they developed into plantlets, which could be transplanted to soil. The regenerated plants grew well in a greenhouse with showing normal appearance and accumulated alkaloids. The influence of auxin on adventitious shoot formation was also investigated.