Effect of thidiazuron on callogenesis in mature leaf explants of coscinium fenestratum (gaertn.) colebr., a critically endangered, medicinal plant

Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr., (Menispermaceae) is a critically endangered, medicinal plant. Mature leaf were used as the explants for the initiation of callus and cultured into three different media, Murashige and Skoog (MS), Woody plant medium (WPM) and B5 medium with varying concentrations of Thidiazuron (TDZ). MS medium was found to have a superior proliferation rate. The frequency of callus formation reached 95% with a mean fresh weight of 2854.76 ± 0.30 mg for explants cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with 0.75 mg/l TDZ. The highest frequency 75% of organogenic callus induction was observed when the calli were subcultured in MS medium containing 0.25 mg/l BAP, which induced an average of 6.71 ± 0.12 adventitious shoot buds.