Rapid micropropagation of Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz (Lythraceae), a rare medicinal plant.

A rapid propagation method comprising initiation of in vitro shoot tip culture from field-grown flowering plants and reculture of the nodal segments of regenerated shoots in Schenk and Hildebrandt (1972) medium was developed for Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz., a rare medicinal shrub. A medium supplement of 6-benzylaminopurine (0.2 mg.l(-1)) induced high frequency (88%) development of axillary shoot buds (3.2) in 4-5 weeks. Subculture of the explants with multiple new shoots in fresh medium for 30 days yielded an even larger number (9.7) of shoots. Highest multiplication (26-35 shoots) was recorded when using culture initiation media with 0.5 mg.l(-1) each of BAP and NAA followed by subculture in 0.2 mg.l(-1) BAP. The shoot multiplication rate was further accelerated by reculturing 0.4-0.6 cm nodal segments of regenerated shoots in media with 1.0 mg.l(-1) BAP. Shoot cuttings (3.5-7.0 cm) were rooted in 0.2 mg.l(-1) IAA. Regenerated plants displayed uniform morphological, growth and flowering characteristics.