Plant Regeneration via Somatic Embryogenesis in Solanum nigrum L. (Black nightshade) (Solanaceae)

Aim: To study the effect of various plant growth regulators (PGRs) for induction of somatic embryogenesis and plantlet formation from cotyledon and leaflet explants in S. nigrum (night shade) an important medicinal plant used in treatment of digestive problems and skin infections.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biotechnology, Kakatiya university, Warangal. Telangana, India, 3 years.

Methodology: Cotyledon (0.8 cm2) and leaflet explants (0.8-1.0 cm2) from 3 week and 4 week old were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 30 g/L sucrose along with different concentrations of 0.5 mg/L BAP+NAA (0.5 – 6.0 mg/L) .

Results: Maximum percentage of somatic embryogenesis was observed in cotyledon(89%) and leaf (98%) explants on MS medium augmented with 0.5mg/L BAP in combination with 2.0 mg/L NAA whereas the highest number of somatic embryos per explant (86 ± 0.19) was formed in leaflet explant.

Conclusion: Somatic embryogenesis was induced from both cotyledon and leaf explants. Since it is threatened and medicinally important species S. nigrum, the present protocol can be used for its conservation and genetic transformation experiments.