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VOL. 11, ISSUE 3 (2026)
Establishment of an efficient In vitro seed germination and micropropagation protocol for Spermacoce alata Aubl. - A medicinally important plant species of chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
Authors
Mehebub Hossain, Susanta Basak, M d Mahbubur Rahman, Tapash Kumar Bhowmik
Abstract
Spermacoce alata Aubl.
(Rubiaceae) is a highly valued medicinal plant possessing significant
therapeutic properties, including anti-leukemic and anti-diabetic activities.
However, widespread habitat destruction and over exploitation necessitate the
development of rapid, reliable conservation and multiplication strategies.
Highest seed germination (90%) was achieved on MS medium with 1.0 mg/l 2, 4-D
and 1.0 mg/l BAP while poorest (65%) result was recorded on MS + 1.0 mg/l BAP +
1.0 mg/l NAA. Natural nodal explants via direct organogenesis, exhibited
the highest multiple shoot buds (MSBs) induction frequency (95%) when cultured
on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l BAP and 1.0 mg/l
NAA, yielding an average of 4.87 ± 0.19 shoots per nodal explant within 20-23
days whereas, topmost MSBs induced (92%) on MS medium with 2.0 mg/l BAP and 1.0
mg/l NAA developed 4.77 ± 0.29 MSBs/ natural shoot apices explant within 24-28
days. During indirect organogenesis, MS medium with 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/l
BAP achieved the highest callus induction (94%) from in vitro raised
nodal explant, while MS medium with 2.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 1.0 mg/l BAP facilitated
maximum callus formation (88%) from in vitro developed leaf explant. For
shoot elongation, the combination of 1.5 mg/l BAP and 1.0 mg/l NAA proved most
effective, stimulating a maximum longitudinal increment of 4.32 ± 0.24 cm after
30 days of culture. Rhizogenesis was successfully induced in vitro, with
half strength MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)
achieving the highest rooting frequency (92%), generating 2.18 ± 0.19 roots per
shoot with an average root length of 3.80 ± 0.17 cm. Following a systematic
hardening process in a 1:1 mixture of garden soil and compost, 85% of the in
vitro regenerated seedlings were successfully acclimatized to ex vitro
conditions. This protocol provides a robust foundation for the large scale
commercial cultivation and systematic conservation of S. alata.
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Pages:53-61
How to cite this article:
Mehebub Hossain, Susanta Basak, M d Mahbubur Rahman, Tapash Kumar Bhowmik "Establishment of an efficient <i>In vitro</i> seed germination and micropropagation protocol for <i>Spermacoce alata</i> Aubl. - A medicinally important plant species of chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh". International Journal of Botany Studies, Vol 11, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 53-61
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