Optimization of
conditions for efficient in vitro culture establishment of Terminalia arjuna, an
important medicinal plant of the Indian sub-continent
Rani Anita, Chahal Shiwani, Singh Inderjeet, Gulia Vibhuti and Siwach Priyanka
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 20(12); 247-254;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/2012rjbt2470254; (2025)
Abstract
The in vitro propagation of large medicinal tree species like Terminalia arjuna
is very difficult because of many problems from the collection of explants to the
culture establishment. The dominant challenges are microbial contamination and phenolic
browning. These are resolved by implementing specific treatments before and during
explant collection and inoculation. Various surface sterilizing agents were utilized
to remove microbial contamination. Accurate knowledge about the concentration and
treatment time of the antimicrobial agents is important as their higher dosage can
lead to unfavorable consequences on the in vitro cultured plantlets. Different efforts
have been made to control phenolic browning, such as presoaking the explants in
chilled antioxidant solution, adding antioxidants into the culture medium and other
conventional practices like frequent subculturing the explants and keeping the cultured
vessels in dark conditions. The dosage of the antimicrobials and antioxidants depended
on the season in which the explant was collected.
During the growing season of the selected mother tree, the best antimicrobial treatment
was found to be mild whereas the best antioxidant treatment was strong because in
this season, endophytic microbes are less prominent and there was heavy leaching
of phenolic substances from the cut ends of the explants. Further, the mother tree
was lopped during October to eliminate contamination due to recalcitrant microbes
in aged tissues.
