Agrobacterium rhizogenes mediated hairy root induction in two medicinally im- portant members of family Solanaceae

Abstract

Withania somnifera (L) Dunal. and Solanum surattense Burm f., the two medicinally important members of family Solanaceae, were investigated for induction of hairy roots using soil borne bacterium, Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Explants like stem segments, hypocotyls and leaves with midrib were infected with the bacterium in vitro. In both plants, extensive hairy roots were induced from leaf explant containing midrib within 15 days of infection. These roots were then established on MS basal medium and their growth was observed to be independent of exogenous supply of phytohormones. The growth rate of transformed roots was 10-fold as compared to control. These roots can be grown and established in phytohormone free liquid MS medium and used as a promising source of secondary metabolites of medicinal significance.