In vitro regeneration of wild Begonia palmata D. Don from the Sikkim Himalayas

This study attempted to establish an in vitro protocol for Begonia palmata a wild Begonia species native to the Sikkim Himalayas, by employing direct organogenesis with leaf and petiole explants. Shoot buds were directly induced from the cut end of the explants and 80-90 % explants were observed devoid of fungal contamination by using surface disinfectants viz. 15 % NaOCl, 70 % ethanol, and 0.1 % HgCl2 for 30 sec. Shoot initiation was observed after 25.80 ± 1.20 days of culture, explants exhibited adventitious shoots and progressed into the early stage of shoot development. The mean number of shoots per explant and number of plantlets per explant was found higher in MS + 2.0 mg l-1 BAP + 0.5 mg l-1 NAA from leaves explant. The maximum shoot length (6.44 ± 0.28 cm) was recorded in MS + 1.5 mg l-1 BAP + 0.5 mg l-1 NAA from leaves explant. Whereas, MS + 0.1 mg l-1 BAP + 1.0 mg l-1 NAA in petiole explant recorded better root initiation and length results. The protocols described here will be valuable for disease-free propagation, commercial ornamental cultivation, ex situ conservation, and genetic transformation of B. palmata.