Abstract

Micropropagation of selected important medicinal plants, Alpinia calcarata , Kaempferia galanga, K. rotunda Malaxis rheedei was carried out successfully. Plantlet regeneration was achieved in all the species throgh enhanced axillary bud development and multiple shoot formation. On media containing a wide range of cytokinins, Benzy laminopurine (BAP) and Kinetin (kin), multiple shoots were induced. Rooting occurred on all the shoots in the multiplication medium. Liquid medium was found to be better than solid medium. Inexpensive polypropylene bags were used as culture containers for micropropagation. Plantlets transplanted to soil recorded 80 survival. The micropropagated plants showed morphological variations. The leaves of micropropagated plants had a higher length to breadth ratio than control plants in the first year. The total biomass of rhizomes was less than in controls