A Viable Approach for a Rapid In Vitro Multiplication of the Medicinal Plant Aloe vera

Abstract

Rapid shoot bud regeneration, directly from the rhizome portion of the medicinally important plant, Aloe vera, was obtained without formation of callus in MS medium supplemented with HAP at a high concentration (3.0-5.0 mg/l). At the initiation stage, a low concentrationofNAA(0.1 mgll) was also applied with HAP. In the subsequent subcultures, NAA was not required. Direct rooting of the shoot buds was achieved either by the application of charcoal (0.2%) or on transfer of the regenerants to sand: soil mixture (2: 1) at high humidity. Since cytological study of the root tip of the regenerants upto lO'h passage (one passage = 45 days) did not show any irregularity, it is assumed that this protocol would produce stable clones for en masse propagation of this important medicinal plant.