Callus-Mediated Organogenesis in Lilium polyphyllum D. Don ex Royle:A Critically Endangered Astavarga Plant

Lilium polyphyllum D. Don ex Royle (Liliaceae) is a critically endangered herbaceous perennial, commonly known as white lily or Ksheer kakoli. Bulbs of the plant are of immense medicinal use and have a stringent and anti-inflammatory properties. Over exploitation of the species from the wild and degradation of habitats are posing threats to its existence. In the present study, a protocol was standardized for micropropagation and mass multiplication of the species from scale leaves. Callusing was induced in basal MS medium containing 2,4-D (6.78 μM) and BAP(4.4 μM), where maximum effect (95.32%) was recorded. Maximum shooting (97.45%) was found in the calluses when shifted to MS medium fortified with BAP (4.4 μM), NAA (0.53 μM) and GA3 (20 ppm) with an average of 19.2 shoots/per culture. The well developed in vitro regenerated shoots were shifted to the ischolar_maining medium and 100% ischolar_maining was achieved in half-strength MS basal medium enriched with IBA(9.8 μM). The in vitro regenerated plant lets were shifted to a glasshouse for acclimatization and finally transferred to the open environment with 85% success.