Histological studies of in vitro regeneration induced in leaf explants of Nymphoides cristatum (Roxb) O.Kuntze – An aquatic medicinal plant

The objective of this work was to study the histological events related to the regeneration process of a medicinal plant, Nymphoides cristatum (Roxb). Leaf explants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mgl-1 of 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP). About 90% of explants gave rise to shoots after 15 days of incubation. The histological studies showed that the regeneration originated directly from parenchymatous cells and direct organogenesis after 20 days of culture could be observed. Buds and roots were found completely differentiated after 40 days of culture and number of shoots per explants was 30. Micorshoots were rooted in hormone - free medium and the plants obtained grew in artificial pond under green house conditions.