Bergenia ligulata (Wall.): micropropagation, genetic fidelity, and SEM studies

Bergenia ligulata , commonly known as ‘Pashanbheda’ or Indian rhubarb, is a perennial herb that has been recognized for its diverse medicinal properties. The indiscriminate use of B. ligulata has brought the species to the brink of becoming threatened. This research aims to establish a robust tissue culture protocol that can be utilized for the rapid micropropagation of B. ligulata . This protocol is essential for ensuring the sustainable production of this valuable plant species and preventing the depletion of its natural populations. The study successfully demonstrated an efficient in vitro regeneration in B. ligulata , using leaf and petiole explants. The most effective combination for achieving the highest number of shoots on either explant (leaf or petiole) involved using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.9 µM and 1.8 µM 6-benzylamino purine (BAP) with 0.5 µM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Moreover, multiple shoots were also produced on MS medium fortified with 8.8 µM BAP and 2.3 µM kinetin (Kn). To achieve optimal rooting, the 45-d-old shoot was carefully isolated and placed in a half-strength MS medium. PCR-based molecular analysis using inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) confirmed the genetically clonal nature of regenerated plantlets. About 80% of the well-developed in vitro regenerated plants were acclimatized in the glasshouse, thereby showing the robustness of the developed protocol. Based on the present study, a reproducible in vitro technique was utilized to achieve direct regeneration of approximately 3597 plants from a single explant over a 1-yr period. This approach involved molecular fidelity analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses to ensure reliable results.