Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on In vitro Shoot Multiplication and Rooting in Bacopa monnieri

Abstract:

Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell, commonly known as Brahmi, is a medicinally important herb widely used in traditional medicine for cognitive enhancement. Due to overexploitation and poor natural regeneration, there is an urgent need for efficient propagation techniques. The present study evaluates the effect of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on in vitro shoot multiplication and rooting of Bacopa monnieri. Nodal explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of cytokinins (BAP, Kinetin) and auxins (IAA, IBA, NAA). Maximum shoot multiplication was observed on MS medium supplemented with BAP (1.5 mg/L) in combination with IAA (0.5 mg/L). Rooting was most effective on MS medium supplemented with IBA (1.0 mg/L). The study demonstrates that optimized PGR combinations significantly enhance micropropagation efficiency and can be used for large-scale production and conservation of Bacopa monnieri.