Optimizing In Vitro Propagation of An Ornamental and Medicinal Plant Crassula Ovata (Mill.) Druce Using Leaf, Stem and Shoot Tip

Crassula ovata (Mill.) Druce, commonly known as Jade plant, is native to South Africa, globally popular due to its ornamental and medicinal value. It is characterized by its limited growth and slow propagation, contributing to high production costs. Countries like China and Turkey are known for exporting Crassula globally. Tissue culture offers an efficient method for mass-producing unique and beautiful species such as C. ovata. to fulfill its increasing demand in Pakistan. The current study investigates the response of explant types of the plant under different plant growth regulators (PGRs) and their optimum concentrations on in vitro regeneration. The present work describes optimal methodology derived from stem, shoot and leaf explants. The explants were sterilized using 70% ethanol and after that 10% sodium hypochlorite solution. leaf for 2 and 9 minutes, shoot tip for 2.5 and 11 minutes and stem for 3.5 and 12 minutes respectively. The explants were grown on MS medium consist of different combinations of PGRs. The effect of different PGRs was recorded in term of regeneration of number of leaves, root length and roots. Among PGRs, the highest root and shoot induction was observed under 0.5 & 1.5 mg/l IAA, 0.5 & 1.5 mg/l 2,4-D, 2.0 mg/l KIN and 0.5 mg/l NAA in shoot tip and stem explant, while leaf explant showed the best root induction under 2.0 mg/l among all the root induction PGR concentrations. Among all explants, shoot tip was the most responsive explant. The plantlets were successfully acclimatized to continue to grow under natural conditions. This protocol provides rapid and efficient season free in vitro propagation of the plant making the plant available at affordable cost.