<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE article  PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD Journal Publishing DTD v3.0 20080202//EN" "http://dtd.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/3.0/journalpublishing3.dtd"><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="3.0" xml:lang="en" article-type="research article"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">AJPS</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>American Journal of Plant Sciences</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn pub-type="epub">2158-2742</issn><publisher><publisher-name>Scientific Research Publishing</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.4236/ajps.2021.129095</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">AJPS-111937</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="Discipline-v2"><subject>Biomedical&amp;Life Sciences</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title>
 
 
  &lt;i&gt;In Vitro&lt;/i&gt; Propagation and Cytological Analysis of &lt;i&gt;Boerhaavia diffusa &lt;/i&gt;L—An Important Medicinal Plant Species of Bangladesh
 
</article-title></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Sweety</surname><given-names>Majumder</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Animesh</surname><given-names>Biswas</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Mohammad</surname><given-names>Mahbubur Rahman</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib></contrib-group><aff id="aff1"><addr-line>Department of Botany, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh</addr-line></aff><pub-date pub-type="epub"><day>02</day><month>09</month><year>2021</year></pub-date><volume>12</volume><issue>09</issue><fpage>1347</fpage><lpage>1360</lpage><history><date date-type="received"><day>19,</day>	<month>July</month>	<year>2021</year></date><date date-type="rev-recd"><day>12,</day>	<month>September</month>	<year>2021</year>	</date><date date-type="accepted"><day>15,</day>	<month>September</month>	<year>2021</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement>&#169; Copyright  2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. </copyright-statement><copyright-year>2014</copyright-year><license><license-p>This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</license-p></license></permissions><abstract><p>
 
 
  An effective and consistent 
  in vitro propagation technique for 
  Boerhaavia diffusa
  <b> </b>L.
  <b> </b>was developed using different types of explants and media compositions. Shoot apex and nodal explants of field grown plants were aseptically cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of auxins (IAA and NAA) and cytokinins (BAP and Kn). The maximum number of multiple shoot buds (6.65 &#177; 0.09) obtain
  ed
   from nodal explants on MS medium containing 2.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l IAA. Multiple shoot buds underwent rapid elongation (4.24 &#177; 0.06 cm) on MS media fortified with 3.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l NAA. Half strength MS media supplemented with 1.0 mg/l IBA + 0.5 mg/l IAA was better for induction and proliferation (6.42 &#177; 0.07) of roots and 75% of plantlets were successfully acclimatized to ex vitro condition, exhibiting a normal development. Somatic chromosome number of in vivo and in vitro grown plant
  s
   w
  ere
   confirmed to be 2n = 26. Chromosome length ranged from 1.40 to 2.43 μm in the mother plants and 1.34 to 2.31 μm for in vitro grown plant
  s
  . The total form percent (TF%) of mother and in vitro grown plant
  s
   was 42.91% and 41.16%, respectively. The karyotype formula of in vivo grown plants was 2n = 26 = 4L<sup>sm</sup> + 6M<sup>sm</sup> + 2M<sup>m</sup> + 14S<sup>m</sup>, whereas that of the in vitro grown plants was 2n = 26 = 8L<sup>sm</sup> + 4M<sup>sm</sup> + 2M<sup>m</sup> + 12S<sup>m</sup>. The frequency of the chromosome having arm more than 2:1 was 0.08 for in vivo 
  grown 
  plants and 0.15 for in vitro 
  raised 
  plants. Thus, according to Stebbins classification (1971) the karyotype of both plants falls into 2A symmetrical type.
 
</p></abstract><kwd-group><kwd>&lt;i&gt;Boerhaavia diffusa&lt;/i&gt;</kwd><kwd> Explant</kwd><kwd> Micropropagation</kwd><kwd> Chromosome</kwd><kwd> Karyotype</kwd></kwd-group></article-meta></front><body><sec id="s1"><title>1. Introduction</title><p>Boerhaaviadiffusa L., generally known as Punarnava, is a perennial creeping, diffusely branched herb belonging to the Nyctaginaceae family. Punarnava leaves are usually 1.25 - 5 cm long, thick, broadly ovate or suborbicular, rounded at the apex, usually white beneath. The flowers are small in size and pink in color, 4 - 10 together, in small umbels, arranged in very slender, axillary and terminal panicles [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref1">1</xref>]. The Boerhaaviadiffusa plant contains many bioactive compounds like tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids (punarnavine), glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, rotenoids (boeravinones A-O) etc. [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref2">2</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref3">3</xref>]. B. diffusa has various types of pharmacological properties like antilymphoproliferative, antiurethritis, antiasthmatic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antileprosy, antidiabetic, immune-modulation and anti-metastatic [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref4">4</xref>]. In Bangladesh, there is virtually no cultivation of medicinal plants on any significant scale [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref5">5</xref>] for commercial purpose. Therefore, it is essential to take urgent steps for large scale propagation of this medicinal plant species, to conserve the plant and also meet the demand of ayurvedic industries.</p><p>Seeds of B. diffusa show a very low germination rate and vegetative propagation is limited by lower number of individuals. Micropropagation is the only rapid process for the mass propagation of B. diffusa and there have been few reports of tissue culture of B. diffusa. The tissue culture is also a powerful tool for accelerating the genetic breeding. The application of biotechnology especially in vitro culture provides an important tool to propagate the selected genotypes [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref6">6</xref>]. In vitro technique may be directed to development of different systems depending on the practical needs. Conventional cultivation methods are both slow and inadequate to meet the demand. The benefits of this technique are that it can make available a continuous, dependable source of natural products. Karyotype analysis has been used for resolving the taxonomic and evolutionary tribulations in many plant species [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref7">7</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref8">8</xref>]. There was no detailed report on in vitro propagation and karyotypic analysis of Boerhaaviadiffusa available in Bangladesh. In this article in vitro propagation and karyotype analysis of B. diffusa is described in detail.</p></sec><sec id="s2"><title>2. Material and Method</title><p>The nodal segments and shoot apices from juvenile twigs of field grown plants of B. diffusa were collected and thoroughly washed under running tap water. The materials were then separated into small pieces, surface sterilized with 5% savlon and liquid soap (Tween 20) for 5 - 10 minutes with constant shaking. Then the explants were washed with distilled water 3 - 4 times for complete removal of detergent and taken under laminar airflow cabinet then transferred to 500 ml sterilized conical flask. After rinsing with 70% ethanol for less than 60 seconds, they were immersed in 0.1 ml HgCl<sub>2</sub> for 10 minutes and washed with sterile distilled water 4 - 5 times and then disinfected explants were cut into minute pieces (0.5 - 1.0 cm) with a sterilized surgical blade and then inoculated onto the culture media. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 8% (w/v) agar supplemented with various concentrations and combinations of cytokinins (BAP and Kn) and auxins (NAA and IAA) was used for organogenesis. In order to induce differentiation, the regenerated plantlets were subcultured on medium supplemented with various concentration and combination of auxins (NAA and IAA) and cytokinins (BAP and Kn) and these were then cultured on elongation media. After that induced shoot buds were carefully removed from the medium and further washed with double distilled water appropriately to avoid any trace of medium on roots. In vitro regenerated shoot buds (5 - 6 cm long) were transferred onto the half strength MS medium supplemented with the auxins (NAA, IBA and IAA) for induction of root. The pH of the medium was adjusted to 5.8 prior to the addition of agar before autoclaving at 121˚C for 30 minutes under a pressure of 1.1 kg/cm<sup>2</sup>. All the culture vessels with inoculated explants were then taken to the culture room for inoculation. The culture room was maintained at a regular cycle of 14 hours light and 16 hours dark with a light intensity of 2000 - 3000 lux. The temperature of culture room was maintained at 25˚C &#177; 2˚C. After proper root formation, the well rooted plantlets were removed from culture vessels and rinsed with running tap water for complete removal of medium which was attached to the roots; the well developed plantlets with roots were placed to pots containing a mixture of soil and compost (1:1). The hardened plants were transferred to a greenhouse (28˚C &#177; 20˚C, RH 90%) before transferring them in to the field. 15 explants were used for each treatment and all experiments data were statistically analyzed and expressed as mean &#177; standard deviation.</p><p>The roots of in vivo and in vitro grown plants were collected when they become 1 - 1.5 cm in size at 9.30 to 10.30 a.m. First growing healthy roots were collected and pretreated with saturated solution of Para-dichlorobenzene (PDB) for 3 h at room temperature (28˚C - 30˚C). The roots were then preserved in 70% (v/v) alcohol for long time preservation at 4˚C in refrigerator. The pretreated Roots were hydrolyzed in a mixture of 1 N HCl for 10 seconds at 60˚C. After gradually washing with distilled water, roots were deep into 2% (w/v) aqueous solution of iron alum for 5 - 10 minutes. Then the roots were further washed with distilled water for 3 - 4 times. Roots were stained in 0.5% (w/v) aqueous solution of haematoxylin for 15 - 20 minutes, and then squashed in a drop of 0.5% (w/v) acetocarmine. After that the hydrolyzed root tips were soaked using a filter paper and placed on a glass slide. After that the meristematic region of roots was cut with a fine blade. A clean cover glass was placed on the material then the prepared slides were then examined under an Optica Vison Pro microscope at a magnification of 1000&#215;. Chromosomes were measured based on well separated metaphase cells. Classification of chromosomes was done on the basis of the nomenclature of Levan [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref9">9</xref>]. Several karyomorphological parameters were estimate by software (Karyotype XY).</p></sec><sec id="s3"><title>3. Results and Discussion</title><sec id="s3_1"><title>3.1. In Vitro Propagation of B. diffusa</title><p>In order to establish a suitable protocol for in vitro mass scale propagation of Boerhaavia diffusa L., shoot apices and nodal segments of field grown plants were collected and aseptically cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of cytokinin (BAP and Kn) and auxin (NAA, IAA and IBA) in different combinations. Multiple shoot buds produced directly from nodal segments and shoot apices in different PGR containing media. Different concentrations of cytokinin BAP (0.5 - 3.0 mg/l) or Kn (0.5 - 3.0 mg/l) alone and in combination with different concentrations of NAA or IAA were used in MS medium for induction and development of MSBs in nodal segments and shoot apices of B. diffusa. Data were recorded after 30 days of culture and are presented in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref> and <xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref>. Though nodal segments gave response in all the concentrations of BAP individually and BAP in combination with NAA or IAA within 12 - 20 days, the per cent of explant showing proliferation varied from 38 to 90 %. The highest percentage (90%) of MSBs induction form nodal segments was found in the medium containing 2.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l IAA and this medium also produced highest number of MSBs (6.65 &#177; 0.09) per explant (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>(a)). The nodal segments and shoot apices directly differentiated into multiple shoot buds when cultured on MS medium supplemented with a broad spectrum of PGR’s combinations. Such direct organogenesis was reported to happen in many other medicinal plants including, Passiflora foetida [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref10">10</xref>], Ocimum sanctum [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref11">11</xref>], Nilgirianthus ciliates [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref12">12</xref>]</p><p>For elongation, the induced multiple shoot buds from nodal segments and shoot apices were individually cultured in aseptic condition on elongation media. Elongation media were prepared with different concentrations of cytokinins and auxin in MS medium. The results obtained from this experiment are presented in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref>. The highest elongation (4.24 &#177; 0.06 cm) was observed in the medium fortified with 3.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l NAA (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>(c) &amp; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>(d)) after 30 days of inoculation. The effect of BAP in combination with NAA has been noted in many other medicinal plant species viz Plectranthusamboinicus [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref13">13</xref>],Orthosiphon stamineus [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref14">14</xref>] and Viola serpens [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref15">15</xref>].</p><p>In terms of root induction, Five to seven cm long in vitro grown shoots were separated and transferred to rooting media. Half strength MS medium fortified with different concentrations and combinations of auxins (IBA, IAA and NAA) were used for rooting experiment. The results of these experiment presented in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref>. Among the three types of auxins, IBA was superior to that of IAA and NAA in terms of induction of roots per shoot. The maximum number of roots (6.42 &#177; 0.07) per shoot was formed in half strength MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l IBA + 1.0 mg/l IAA and highest elongation (4.37 &#177; 0.09 cm) was also observed in the same medium (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref>(a) &amp; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref>(b)). Half strength MS medium with combination of two auxins was found effective for rooting of many other medicinal plants such as Caralluma diffusa [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref16">16</xref>] and Clausenaheptaphylla [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref17">17</xref>].</p><table-wrap id="table1" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref></label><caption><title> Effects of BAP individually and in combination with NAA or IAA on induction of MSBs in nodal segments and Shoot Apices of B. diffusa</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >PGRs supplement in the media (mg/l)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Explants</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >% of explants gave response</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Time (d) require for induction of MSBs</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Average* no. of MSBs/explant ( x &#175; &#177; SE)</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="8"  >BAP</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >58</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14 - 18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.15 &#177; 0.04<sup>m</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >35</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14 - 20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.15 &#177; 0.08<sup>k </sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >65</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14 - 18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.11 &#177; 0.09<sup>n</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >54</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14 - 20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.21 &#177; 0.06<sup>j</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >68</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.13 &#177; 0.07<sup>l</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >61</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.89 &#177; 0.10<sup>e </sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >42</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15 - 20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.05 &#177; 0.08<sup>o</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >39</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15 - 22</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.11 &#177; 0.10<sup>l</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="12"  >BAP + NAA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 0.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >66</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15 - 20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.69 &#177; 0.09<sup>i</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >61</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.66 &#177; 0.08<sup>g</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >70</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15 - 17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.11 &#177; 0.07<sup>f</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >82</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 - 12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.15 &#177; 0.09<sup>a</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >77</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.63 &#177; 0.06<sup>j</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.79 &#177; 0.06<sup>b</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 0.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >68</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.84 &#177; 0.08<sup>g</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >64</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.8 &#177; 0.12<sup>f</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >61</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14 - 18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.68 &#177; 0.05<sup>i</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >64</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.8 &#177; 0.12<sup>f</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >56</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.24 &#177; 0.06<sup>k</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >60</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.86 &#177; 0.12<sup>c</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="12"  >BAP + IAA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 0.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >73</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13 - 20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.03 &#177; 0.01<sup>d</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >56</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.80 &#177; 0.09<sup>f</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >90</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.65 &#177; 0.09<sup>a</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >72</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.02 &#177; 0.06<sup>d</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.15 &#177; 0.12<sup>b</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >66</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.49 &#177; 0.07<sup>i</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 0.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >48</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13 - 17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.26 &#177; 0.08<sup>c</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >57</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.89 &#177; 0.10<sup>e</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >43</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.81 &#177; 0.09<sup>e</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >46</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.53 &#177; 0.06<sup>h</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >38</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.80 &#177; 0.08<sup>h</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >32</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14 - 20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.07 &#177; 0.05<sup>m </sup></td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>d = days, MSBs = Multiple shoot buds, NS = Nodal Segment, SA = Shoot apices *values are the means of three replicates with 15 explants. Figures in the column having the same letter(s) within a location did not differ significantly according to DMRT ≤ 0.05.</p><table-wrap id="table2" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref></label><caption><title> Effects of Kn individually and in combination with NAA or IAA on induction of MSBs in nodal segments and Shoot Apices of B. diffusa</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >PGRs supplement in the media (mg/l)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Explants</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >% of explants gave response</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Time (d) require for induction of MSBs</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Average* no. of MSBs/explant ( x &#175; &#177; SE)</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="8"  >Kn</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >35</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.21 &#177; 0.10<sup>k</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >35</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.17 &#177; 0.06<sup>j</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.14 &#177; 0.06<sup>l</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.12 &#177; 0.08<sup>j</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >56</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.52 &#177; 0.05<sup>h</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >56</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.13 &#177; 0.12<sup>j </sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >31</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 - 15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.20 &#177; 0.10<sup>k</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >31</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 - 15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.51 &#177; 0.04<sup>ij</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="12"  >Kn + NAA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 0.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >37</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.48 &#177; 0.03<sup>i</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >54</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.36 &#177; 0.05<sup>f</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >48</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.27 &#177; 0.07<sup>d</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >65</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.88 &#177; 0.07<sup>b</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >54</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.51 &#177; 0.06<sup>f</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >78</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.87 &#177; 0.05<sup>a</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 0.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >47</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.63 &#177; 0.08<sup>g</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >51</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.86 &#177; 0.09<sup>c</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >35</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.36 &#177; 0.07<sup>j</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >42</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.37 &#177; 0.06<sup>f</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >28</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13 - 18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.10 &#177; 0.08<sup>m</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >36</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.10 &#177; 0.08<sup>g</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="12"  >Kn + IAA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 0.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >54</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.67 &#177; 0.05<sup>c</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >37</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.66 &#177; 0.07<sup>h</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >65</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.76 &#177; 0.52<sup>b</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >48</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.84 &#177; 0.08<sup>d</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >78</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.21 &#177; 0.06<sup>a</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >54</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.67 &#177; 0.07<sup>h</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 0.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >51</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.67 &#177; 0.05<sup>c</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >47</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11 - 13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.44 &#177; 0.08<sup>e</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >42</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.79 &#177; 0.04<sup>f</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >35</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.66 &#177; 0.09<sup>h</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >NS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >36</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 - 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.88 &#177; 0.09<sup>e</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.08 &#177; 0.09<sup>k</sup></td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>d = days, MSBs = Multiple shoot buds, NS = Nodal Segment, SA = Shoot apices. *values are the means of three replicates with 15 explants. Figures in the column having the same letter(s) within a location did not differ significantly according to DMRT ≤ 0.05.</p><table-wrap id="table3" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref></label><caption><title> Effects of different concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on the elongation of multiple shoot buds of B. diffusa</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >PGRs supplement in the medium (mg/l)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Initial* length (cm) of individual shoot buds ( x &#175; &#177; SE)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Length* (cm) of individual shoot buds after 30 d of culture ( x &#175; &#177; SE)</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="4"  >BAP + NAA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.90 &#177; 0.05<sup>k</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.15 &#177; 0.06<sup>w</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.37 &#177; 0.07<sup>f</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.66 &#177; 0.11<sup>q</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.03 &#177; 0.08<sup>a</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.24 &#177; 0.06<sup>n</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.81 &#177; 0.08<sup>b</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.82 &#177; 0.09<sup>o</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="4"  >BAP + IAA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.51 &#177; 0.11<sup>d</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.70 &#177; 0.08<sup>p</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.39 &#177; 0.10<sup>e</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.49 &#177; 0.06<sup>r</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.37 &#177; 0.10<sup>f</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.22 &#177; 0.07<sup>s</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.62 &#177; 0.07<sup>c</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.20 &#177; 0.02<sup>s</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="4"  >Kn + NAA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.06 &#177; 0.05<sup>i</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.35 &#177; 0.07<sup>z</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.26 &#177; 0.07<sup>g</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.91 &#177; 0.05<sup>t</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.08 &#177; 0.09<sup>h</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.20 &#177; 0.07<sup>s</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.98 &#177; 0.12<sup>j</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.87 &#177; 0.06<sup>x</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="4"  >Kn + IAA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.90 &#177; 0.11<sup>k</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.18 &#177; 0.03<sup>v</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.07 &#177; 0.08<sup>h</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.47 &#177; 0.10<sup>u</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.77 &#177; 0.11<sup>l</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.59 &#177; 0.09<sup>t</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.54 &#177; 0.06<sup>m</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.58 &#177; 0.08<sup>y</sup></td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>d = days, MSBs = Multiple shoot buds. *values are the means of three replicates with 15 explants. Figures in the column having the same letter(s) within a location did not differ significantly according to DMRT ≤ 0.05.</p><table-wrap id="table4" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref></label><caption><title> Effects of different concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on the development of roots in elongated shoot buds of B. diffusa</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >PGRs supplements in the media (mg/l)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Days to root induction</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >% of micro shoot produced roots</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Average* number of roots/micro shoot ( x &#175; &#177; SE)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Average* length (cm) roots after 30 d of culture ( x &#175; &#177; SE)</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >1/2 MS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >18 - 25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.23 &#177; 0.03<sup>m</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.23 &#177; 0.11<sup>z</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="4"  >1/2 MS + IBA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >18 - 25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.65 &#177; 0.03<sup>g</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.76 &#177; 0.04<sup>u</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >16 - 20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >65</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.45 &#177; 0.09<sup>b</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.15 &#177; 0.04<sup>s</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17 - 24</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >69</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.49 &#177; 0.08<sup>e</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.91 &#177; 0.10<sup>t</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17 - 22</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >73</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.03 &#177; 0.01<sup>i</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.00 &#177; 0.15<sup>x</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="4"  >1/2 MS + IAA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14 - 18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >67</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.12 &#177; 0.09<sup>f</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.12 &#177; 0.03<sup>w</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15 - 17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >76</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.91 &#177; 0.06<sup>d</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.50 &#177; 0.04<sup>u</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13 - 17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >73</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.49 &#177; 0.05<sup>h</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.18 &#177; 0.06<sup>r</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >58</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.39 &#177; 0.12<sup>h</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.02 &#177; 0.04<sup>u</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="4"  >1/2 MS + NAA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >20 - 25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.88 &#177; 0.05<sup>k</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.02 &#177; 0.11<sup>y</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >22 - 25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >57</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.01 &#177; 0.16<sup>j</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.30 &#177; 0.02<sup>p</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >20 - 22</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >65</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.32 &#177; 0.07<sup>l</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.53 &#177; 0.16<sup>v</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >18 - 20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >38</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.39 &#177; 0.12<sup>h</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.02 &#177; 0.24<sup>x</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >1/2MS + IBA + IAA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12 - 16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >87</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.43 &#177; 0.08<sup>b</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.19 &#177; 0.05<sup>q</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14 - 17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >94</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.42 &#177; 0.07<sup>a</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.37 &#177; 0.09<sup>n</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >1/2 MS + IBA + NAA</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.0 + 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13 - 18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >61</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.21 &#177; 0.05<sup>c</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.90 &#177; 0.11<sup>o</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.0 + 1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15 - 22</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >55</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.76 &#177; 0.12<sup>d</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.56 &#177; 0.03<sup>v</sup></td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>d = days, MSBs = Multiple shoot buds. *values are the means of three replicates with 15 explants. Figures in the column having the same letter(s) within a location did not differ significantly according to DMRT ≤ 0.05.</p><p>In order to establish the in vitro developed complete seedlings in the outside environment, the culture vessels with well profuse rooted plantlets were taken out of the culture room and follow several steps for acclimatization. Then the plantlets were planted in small plastic pots (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref>(c)) containing garden soil and compost in the ratio of 1:1 and kept in room temperature for 3 - 5 days and about 75%. Regenerated plantlets were morphologically uniform having normal phenotype.</p></sec><sec id="s3_2"><title>3.2. Karyomorphological Studies of Boerhaavia diffusa</title><sec id="s3_2_1"><title>3.2.1. Karyotype of In Vivo Grown B. diffusa</title><p>Chromosomal analysis of in vivo plants revealed the presence of 2n = 26 chromosomes in the somatic cells. The individual chromosome length ranged from 1.40 to 2.43 &#181;m (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">Table 5</xref>). In the basic set there were five submetacentric and eight metacentric chromosomes. The centromeric formula was, therefore, 5sm + 8 m (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref>(a)). Of the five submetacentric chromosomes two were long and three were medium. Among the eight metcentric chromosomes one was medium and seven were small (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref>(b) &amp; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref>(c)). The appropriate karyotypic formula was 2L<sup>sm</sup> + 3M<sup>sm</sup> + 1M<sup>m</sup> + 7S<sup>m</sup>. The total length of haploid complement was 23.13 &#181;m and TF% was 42.91. The total length of the long arms was 13.20 &#181;m and that of the short arms was 9.93 &#181;m. The proportion between the longest and the shortest chromosome was less than 2:1 and the frequency of chromosomes having arm ratio more than 2:1 was 0.08. Thus the karyotype fell in 2A symmetrical type. Similar types of observations were noted in some other plants by few scientists such as Liriope spicata [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref18">18</xref>] and Impatiens balsamina [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.111937-ref19">19</xref>].</p><table-wrap id="table5" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">Table 5</xref></label><caption><title> Length, Arm ratio, Relative length (RL), Centromeric index (CI), Centromeric type (CT), Chromosome type, TF% and Centromeric formula of mitotic metaphase chromosome of in vivo grown plants of B. diffusa</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Chromosome pair</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Long arm (l) &#181;m</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Short arm (s) &#181;m</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Total length (T) &#181;m</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Arm ratio (l/s)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >RL (%)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >CI (%)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >CT</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Chromosome type</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >TF%</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Centromeric formula</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.56</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.87</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.43</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.79</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.51</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >35.80</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >sm</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >L</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="13"  >42.91</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="13"  >5 sm + 8 m</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.56</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.82</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.38</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.90</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.29</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >34.44</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >sm</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >L</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.31</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.06</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.76</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >36.28</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >sm</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >M</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.35</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.67</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.02</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.02</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.73</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33.10</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >sm</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >M</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.26</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.66</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.92</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.30</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >34.39</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >sm</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >M</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.82</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.87</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >M</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.80</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.60</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.92</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >S</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.76</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.76</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.52</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.57</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >S</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.76</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.76</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.52</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.57</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >S</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >10</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.49</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >S</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >11</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.49</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >S</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.73</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.73</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.46</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.31</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >S</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.70</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.70</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.40</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.05</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >S</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap></sec><sec id="s3_2_2"><title>3.2.2. Karyotype of In Vitro Grown B. diffusa</title><p>There were 26 chromosomes in each somatic of in vitro grown plants (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>(a)) and the range of individual chromosome length was 1.34 to 2.31 &#181;m (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table6">Table 6</xref>). Among the 13 basic chromosomes, six were submetacentric and seven were metacentric chromosomes (centromeric formula = 6 sm + 7 m). Four of the six submetacentric chromosomes were long and two were medium (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>(b) &amp;</p><p><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>(c)). Of the seven metacentric chromosomes, one was medium and six were small. The karyotypic formula was 4L<sup>sm</sup> + 2M<sup>sm</sup> + 1M<sup>m</sup> + 6S<sup>m</sup>. The total length of haploid complement was 23.07 &#181;m and TF% was 41.16. The length of the total long arms was 13.57 &#181;m and that of the short arms was 9.50 &#181;m. The ratio of the longest and the shortest chromosomes was less than 2:1 and the frequency of chromosomes with the arm ratio more than 2:1 was 0.15. This karyotype fell in 2A symmetric type.</p><table-wrap id="table6" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table6">Table 6</xref></label><caption><title> Length, Arm ratio, Relative length (RL), Centromeric index (CI), Centromeric type (CT), Chromosome type, TF% and Centromeric formula of mitotic metaphase chromosome of in vitro grown plants of B. diffusa</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Chromosome pair</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Long arm (l) &#181;m</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Short arm (s) &#181;m</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Total length (T) &#181;m</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Arm ratio (l/s)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >RL (%)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >CI (%)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >CT</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Chromosome type</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >TF%</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Centromeric formula</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.55</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.76</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.31</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.05</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.01</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >32.74</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >sm</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >L</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="13"  >41.16</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="13"  >6 sm + 7 m</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.55</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.30</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.06</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.97</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >32.62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >sm</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >L</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.08</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.78</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.02</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >35.98</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >sm</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >L</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.36</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.71</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.07</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.92</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.97</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >34.28</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >sm</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >L</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.31</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.66</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.97</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.98</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.54</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33.52</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >sm</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >M</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.65</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.90</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.92</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.24</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >34.23</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >sm</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >M</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.90</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.90</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.80</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >M</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.77</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.77</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.54</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.68</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >S</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >S</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >10</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >S</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >11</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.71</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.71</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.42</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >S</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.67</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.67</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >S</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.67</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.67</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >S</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap></sec></sec></sec><sec id="s4"><title>4. Conclusion</title><p>The result of this research work revealed that large scale in vitro propagation of B. diffusa is possible through direct organogenesis from nodal segments and shoot apices. MS medium containing 2.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l IAA is the best for induction of multiple shoot buds and half MS medium fortified with 1.0 mg/l IBA + 1.0 mg/l IAA is the best root induction and root elongation. The survival percentage of the well rooted plantlets to the outside environment was 75%. The results of karyomorphological analysis indicate that basal media, plant growth regulators, culture time and subcultures did not affect the in vitro grown plants. There generated plants were morphologically similar to the mother plants of the selected medicinal plant species. There were very minute karyotypic variations between selected in vivo and in vitro plant species. Karyomorphological study of present investigation will be helpful to understand the number, morphology of chromosomes which are useful in cytotaxonomy and also beneficial for further research in cytogenetics.</p></sec><sec id="s5"><title>Acknowledgements</title><p>The financial support from the Research &amp;Publication cell in the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh for conducting this research work is gratefully acknowledged.</p></sec><sec id="s6"><title>Conflicts of Interest</title><p>The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.</p></sec><sec id="s7"><title>Cite this paper</title><p>Majumder, S., Biswas, A. and Rahman, M.M. (2021) In Vitro Propagation and Cytological Analysis of Boerhaavia diffusa L—An Important Medicinal Plant Species of Bangladesh. 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