Artificial Seed Production of Tylophora indica for Interim Storing and Swapping of Germplasm

Our research work demonstrates the single bead alginate-encapsulation, interim storing and conversion of Tylophora indica (Burm. Fil.) Merrill. Most effective encapsulation of in vitro nodal segments [(4 ± 1) mm long], ensuing in sphere-shaped artificial seeds of similar morphology, was achieved through 75 mmol⋅L−1 calcium chloride (CaCl2 ⋅ 2H2O) plus 3% (w/v) Na-alginate with 93.3% conversion frequency. The earliest conversion (within 7 days of incubation) of artificial seeds occurred in half-strength liquid Murashige and Skoog medium. Among the three different temperature regimes [(5 ± 1) °C, (15 ± 1) °C, and (25 ± 1) °C], storage of artificial seeds at (15 ± 1) °C executed the highest frequency of conversion (90%) after 15 days of storage. Lengthier storage significantly reduced the conversion frequency of artificial seeds irrespective of storage temperature. Nevertheless, the conversion frequency after 30 days of storage at (15 ± 1) °C was recorded at 70% without further decline even following 45 days of storage, which evidently suggests that lower temperature (15 ± 1) °C is apt for storage and subsequent conversion of T. indica artificial seeds. The present protocol could be expedient for short-term storing and swapping of T. indica germplasms between national and international laboratories.