Cost effective medium for callus initiation from Catharanthus roseus leaves

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. is well known for the anti-cancer agents vincristine and vinblastine, and anti-hypertensive agent ajmalicine. Low yields and high production cost of these alkaloids from intact plants motivated us to establish a cost effective medium for callus initiation. Healthy and friable callus is the prerequisite for any biotechnological investigation. Leaves of C. roseus were incubated in MS medium supplemented with different combinations of growth hormones. MSD medium containing 2,4 D (4.52 µM)+ Kn (4.65 µM) yielded good friable callus after five weeks of incubation. To economize the process, MS medium is prepared in normal water in stead of double distilled water, sucrose (3%) is replaced by market sugar (3%) and coconut water is added in place of growth hormones. Frequency of callus initiation is slightly improved by these modifications. Modified medium responded favorably for the production of good friable callus and high biomass in medium containing 10% coconut water after five weeks of incubation was observed. Higher concentration of coconut water however produced compact and hard callus.