Micropropagation of Ajuga bracteosa via Direct Organogenesis Using Internodal Explants: SEM, GC-MS, and SCoT Marker Analysis

<i>Ajuga bracteosa</i> is a herb with high medicinal value and a low range of distribution. It is used in several herbal and traditional medicines, including diabetes. In the present study, we designed the methodology for the micropropagation of <i>A. bracteosa</i> from internodal segments. The highest shoot multiplication was achieved on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzyl-amino-purine (BAP) (5.0 µM) + indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (1.5 µM) + adenine sulphate (ADS) (15.0 µM), which produced the maximum number of 20.45 ± 0.12 shoots/explants with 6.43 ± 0.006 cm shoot length. Rooting in the microshoots was attained on half-strength MS medium containing indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (1.5 µM), with the highest root number of 16.44 ± 0.015 roots/shoot, and root length of 2.25 ± 0.011 cm. To assess genetic fidelity, SCoT marker analysis was performed on nine randomly selected <i>in vitro</i> regenerated plantlets and the mother plant, all of which exhibited monomorphic banding patterns, confirming genetic stability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals normal stomatal structure in the regenerated plants post-acclimatization, indicating successful physiological recovery. Furthermore, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis confirms the presence of major phytocompounds in both the <i>in vitro</i> regenerated plants and the mother plant, supporting the conservation of phytochemical integrity. Given the restricted distribution and overharvesting pressure on this species, the established protocol provides an efficient strategy for rapid, large-scale, and genetically stable propagation to support conservation and pharmaceutical utilization.