PLANTLETS REGENERATION THROUGH CALLUS CULTURE IN Caparis spinosa Linn

Caparis spinosa Linn. popularly known as Caper plant is a naturally occurring medicinally important plant of the family Capparaceae. This plant has highly diverse economic and medicinal value in different system of medicine like, Unani, Chinese, Ayurvedicand Arabic. Various parts of C. spinosa are used as drug to treat different diseases especially against hepatic and renal problems. Extract of this plant is one of the constituents of the Ayurvedic drug preparation ‘Liv 52’ administered to treat preliminary causes of acute viral hepatitis and cirrhosis of liver and has shown encouraging results against viral infection in man. Keeping in view its medicinal use, the in vitro studies of the plant was undertaken to develop a protocol for mass propagation. Regeneration of plantlets was achieved through callus regeneration using stem (apical, nodal & internodal segments) and leaf as explants. Sterilized explants from in vivo grown plants were cultured on M S ( Murashige & Skoog, 1962) medium containing different concentrations of Auxins and Cytokinins singly or in various combinations. It has been found that 1 mg/L NAA and 0.5 mg/L BAP is suitable for callusing and shoots differentiation in stem explants (apical, node & internode) and in leaf, the combination of 1mg/L NAA & 2.5 mg/L BAP has given the best result in development of callus and differentiation into adventitious shoots. INTRODUCTION Capparis spinosa Linn. popularly known as Caper plant or Kabra or Kabar is naturally occurring, medicinally important taxon of the family Capparaceae. The plant is credited with anti-tubercular properties and also efficacious in rheumatism, paralysis and enlarged spleen. The root bark of this plant is extensively used in Ayurvedic system of medicine especially against hepatic and renal problems. The juice of leaves and fruits possess anti-cystic, fungicidal and bactericidal activities (Kirtikar and Basu 1935). Extract of the plant is one of the constituents of the