MICROPROPAGATION OF STRYCHNOS HENINGSII FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION

Abstract

Strychnos henningsii is an important medicinal herb of the family Logoniaceae common name Muteta (Kikuyu and Kamba), Muchimbi (Meru). It is an endangered plant that is facing threat of extinction owing to indiscriminate and unsustainable harvesting in the wild. Conventional breeding is difficult in this plant, and in-vitro multiplication is important to conservation and propagation. Tissue culture techniques are useful for ex-situ conservation of rare endemic or threatened plant species. An efficient protocol for rapid production of micro shoots was established. Multiple shoots were obtained using nodal segments with two auxiliary buds as explants on Ms medium supplemented with various concentrations of Cytokinins (Kinetin, Benzyl Amino Purine) and/or GA3, at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 10 mg/l. High frequency bud break 74.67% and multiple shoot formation were induced from nodal segments cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2.0mg/l BAP. Faster bud break coupled with enhanced frequency of shoot development 87.53% and internode elongation were dependent on the synergistic effect of GA3 (0.2 mg/l).