CRUCIAL ROLE OF NITROGEN IN IN- VITRO REGENERATION OF PHYLLANTHUS AMARUS SCHUM. AND THONN.

Nitrogen plays a pivotal role in growth and differentiation of cells of Phyllanthus amarus Schum. and Thonn. Both form and amount of nitrogen in nutrient medium have significant effects on the rate of cell growth and differentiation. In this study, effects of different inorganic nutrients (KNO₃  and NH₄NO₃) and organic nutrients (glycine) on regeneration of P. amarus were evaluated. Murashige and Skoog’s medium (MS) was used as basal medium along with plant growth hormones and different concentrations of nitrogen. Among the various growth hormones tried, BAP (0.5 mg/l) gave maximum number of shoots (17.33±0.86) after 3-4 weeks of inoculation. However, various strength of KNO₃, NH₄NO₃ and glycine were optimized in the medium in order to get the maximum number of shoots, nodes per shoot, shoot length as well as the size of leaves respectively. Amongst all modifications, less or more, MS medium with standard amount of nitrogen source was found to be most effective. The shoots regenerated on MS medium along with BAP (0.5 mg/l) were subjected to their elongation on the same medium and their root induction was done on half strength MS medium along with IBA (0.5 mg/l). These complete plantlets were hardened and acclimatized in natural conditions. 80% survival rate was observed under field conditions.