Biotechnological Strategies for Conservation of Endemic Ceropegia Spp

Genus Ceropegia L. (family - Apocynaceae) includes herbs and climbers grow in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the World with more than 220 species. They have acquired significant importance due to their medicinal properties, edible tubers, and its ornamental flowers. However, utmost species are suffering from various threats such as hydroelectric projects, wind mills, deforestation, clamming of more and more land for agriculture, introduction of exotic species, spread of invasive weeds, forest fires, tourism and increased habitat fragmentation. Due to these reasons, their conservation and further improvement through biotechnological approaches are unavoidable. Using tissue culture techniques, it is possible to produce large number of plants throughout the year under controlled growth conditions in a small space. Thus the study was attempted on endemic and endangered Ceropegia species from Western Ghats. The study determined the adventitious shoot regeneration, callus culture, somatic embryogenesis, in vitro flowering, molecular profiling and reintroduction of in vitro regenerated plantlets in to their natural localities.