Abstract

IN VITRO PROPAGATION AND ASSESSMENT OF GENETIC FIDELITY OF SEABUCKTHORN (HIPPOPHAE SALICIFOLIA D. DON) USING RAPD MARKERS AND EVALUATION OF THEIR ANTIBACTERIAL EFFICACY: PHARMACEUTICALLY IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANT

Mousmi Saikia * and PJ Handique

ABSTRACT

An efficient and rapid in vitro propagation protocol have been established using cotyledonary node explants excised from aseptically germinated seedlings of Hippophae salicifolia D. Don. Various nutrient media, antioxidants and different combinations of cytokinins and auxins were assessed and optimized for shoot proliferation. Woody Plant Medium (WPM) with Staba vitamin containing sucrose (30 g l-1), PVP (100 mg l-1), agar (8 g l-1) and growth hormones BAP (0.44 μM), Kn (23.2 μM), IAA (28.5 μM) and GA3 (0.28 μM) was found to be optimum with 21.6 shoots per explants in 6 weeks of culture and an average of 30.5 shoots per explants in 6 weeks of 1st subculture. Efficient rooting (100%) was achieved in a medium containing IBA (4.9 μM) on half-strength WPM. The rooted shoots showed 100% survival after acclimatization in the greenhouse. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting profiles had been used to evaluate the genetic stability and clonal fidelity of the in vitro regenerated plants. Antibacterial activity was tested against six pathogenic strains by agar diffusion method. The protocol reported in the present study will be useful in the mass multiplication of H. salicifolia for commercial propagation of this valuable medicinal plant.

Keywords: Hippophae salicifolia, in vitro propagation, cotyledonary node, WPM, RAPD, antibacterial activity.