Abstract

RAPID IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF ALOE VERA L. WITH SOME GROWTH REGULATORS USING LATERAL SHOOTS AS EXPLANTS

Neelofar Khanam*, and G.K. Sharma

ABSTRACT

Aloe vera L. is as old as civilization and through history it has been used as a popular folk medicine. Considering it’s medicinal and commercial (such as in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food industries) importance it is also known as “wonder herb” or “miracle herb”. After looking through its increasing demand, there is a global need to develop quality plant material. In present investigation, an efficient in vitro propagation technology was developed for a rapid and large scale production of Aloe vera L. by using lateral shoots (suckers) from the mature healthy and approximately 5-6 year old parent plant. After proper sterilization all the explants were micropropagated on MS basal medium supplemented with 3% sucrose as carbon source and 0.8% agar-agar as solidifying agent along with different growth regulators, singly or in combinations for shoot initiation, proliferation, elongation and rooting. Shoot initiation and elongation both were found best on 4.0 mg/l BAP & 0.2 mg/l NAA and for root proliferation and elongation 2.0 mg/l IBA & 1.0 mg/l NAA were found best.

Keywords: Aloe vera L., in vitro propagation, BAP, NAA, IBA.