In vitro shoot response of Rauvolfia serpentina to the type and concentration of cytokinin

Rauvolfia serpentina is widely recognized for its use as a raw material in hypertension and antihypertensive medications, including reserpine. Since this plant is used directly from the natural world, cultivation activities are necessary. Seeds for cultivation must be consistent, high-quality, and free of pests and diseases. Thus, a suitable propagation technique is required. In vitro propagation is one method that can produce homogeneous plants with a relatively high rate of multiplication. Cytokinin-family regulatory molecules are crucial for in vitro proliferation techniques. The aim of this research was to determine the optimal type and concentration of cytokinin for the in vitro induction of R. serpentina shoots. This study employed a completely randomized factorial design. The first factor was the type of cytokinin (Benzylaminopurine (BA), Zeatin, Kinetin, and 2iP), and the second factor was the cytokinin concentration (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mg/l). Each treatment was replicated 10 times. The results showed that the best cytokinin for R. serpentina shoot induction in vitro was BA at a concentration of 0.5 mg/l. This treatment produced a greater number of shoots and leaves, taller shoots compared to other treatments, and resulted in more well-developed plant visualization.