LAUSR

Chonemorpha fragrans is an endangered medicinal woody climber, regarded among alternative plant sources of camptothecin. Camptothecin is a monoterpene indole anti-cancer alkaloid with annual trade value of over three billion U.S. dollars in the recent, and is used in the production of its analog drugs approved for the chemotherapy of cancer of varied types. Effects of plant growth regulators, culture media strength and photoperiodic duration on the micropropagation efficiency of C. fragrans from nodal segment explants were studied on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium amended with Thidiazuron (TDZ), Benzylaminopurine (BAP) or Kinetin (Kin). Thidiazuron was more efficient over BAP and Kin when half basal MS medium was used over full or quarter strength. Results of carbon source experiment showed sucrose as the most effective over glucose, fructose, and maltose in the clonal production. Studies on the photoperiodic incubation duration showed 12 h as the best light period and sub or supra-optimal resulted in the production of abnormal and albino micro shoots. Experimental results on the evaluation of physiological, biochemical parameters showed the role of pigment molecules and antioxidant systems in the production of albino micro shoots.