Induction of multiple shoots in Amomum hypoleucum Thwaites A threatened wild relative of large cardamom

Abstract: An efficient and repeatable micropropagation protocol has been established for Amomum hypoleucum, a lesser known threatened medicinal plant of the family Zingiberaceae. Eighty percent of the rhizome nodes from greenhouse grown plants, cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg L^-1 BA and 0.5 mg L^-1 IAA, showed axillary bud break in 8-10 days. Multiple shoots proliferated from such shoot explants when transplanted to medium with 3 mg L^-1 BA and 1 mg L^-1 TDZ. An average of 9.2 shoots could be recovered in two months and about 65-70% of the shoots showed simultaneous rooting. Isolated shoots were also rooted in medium fortified with 0.5 mg L^-1 NAA. Plantlets, transferred to the field after acclimatization in greenhouse conditions, showed 85% survival.