In vitro propagation of Oxalis corniculata L.

The Oxalidaceae family is known for small herbs, shrubs and small trees with economic and medicinal properties in folklore medicines. The genus Oxalis is distributed worldwide and is famous for tuberous and ornamental cultivars. The present study established reproducible in vitro protocols for mass multiplication of Oxalis corniculata L. via. micropropagation and indirect organogenesis using different explants. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium augmented with various cytokinins, auxins and gibberellic acid and combinations with respect to the different protocols. In micropropagation, shoot tip and node explants cultured on a medium with 6-benzyl adenine (BA) 3.0 mg/L, 6-furfuryladenine (Kn) 1.0 mg/L and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) 0.5 mg/L produced the highest average of 35.1 and 28.5 shoots after 25 days of culture, respectively. Gibberellic acid (GA3 ) treatment was satisfactory in shoot elongation, and rooting of shoots was best on indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) 3.0 mg/L than indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and NAA. In indirect organogenesis, internode, leaf and petiole explants produced green, compact nodular calli at varying frequencies on medium fortified with auxins. The maximum frequencies of shoot regeneration and shoot numbers were observed on a medium containing BA 1.0 mg/L and IBA 0.5 mg/L. Further, the shoot elongation was achieved with BA and GA3 , and rooting was best achieved on IBA 3.0 mg/L with Kn 0.5 mg/L. All the plantlets were successfully hardened and acclimatized under the greenhouse condition with maximum survival of 95%. The current protocols established via meristem and callus mediated cultures would help in bioprospecting of this less explored medicinal plant.

Keywords: Callus, Micropropagation, Medicinal Plant, MS Medium, Organogenesis, Oxalis corniculata, Rooting, Shoot Elongation, Shoot Tip.