In vitro micropropagation and flowering of the endangered medicinal herb Iphigenia stellata Blatt.

This study presents an efficient and reproducible method for the in vitro multiplication of Iphigenia stellata Blatt., a valuable source of the pharmaceutically important drug colchicine. This species, endemic to the Western Ghats, is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The primary objective of this study was to develop an in vitro micropropagation protocol, considering its declining population. The plant material was collected from Sindhudurg District in the state of Maharashtra, India. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with plant growth regulators was used to study the in vitro growth response. Multiplication occurred through the formation of microcorms, and an optimal response was observed on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L benzylaminopurine for shoot induction, with 3.70 ± 0.58 shoots per explant and a length of 8.13 ± 0.85 cm. Highest root induction was recorded for 0.2 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), with 3.0 ± 1 roots per explant, whereas 0.5 mg/L NAA resulted in maximum root length of 4.17 ± 1.25 cm. In addition, in vitro flowering was investigated, highlighting the promising potential of this method as a conservation tool.