Plant Regeneration from Alginate Encapsulated Shoot Tips of Boucerosia umbellata (Haw.) Wight & Arn. (Syn.: Caralluma umbellata Haw.)

The shoot apices of multiple shoots of Boucerosia umbellata under in vitro conditions were selected for encapsulation studies. Gel matrix Sodium Alginate at different concentrations was exposed to complexing agent Calcium Chloride for different durations. The seeds thus produced were stored at 4°C under aseptic conditions to study their viability and were inoculated on nutrient medium to study their morphogenetic response. The germination percentage decreased after storage of these synthetic seeds. Immediate germination gave a germination percentage of 98 and gradually reduced during storage. After one month of storage, the germination percentage decreased to 74%. After 6 months of storage at 4°C the germination was as low as 36%.