In vitro accelerated mass propagation and ex vitro evaluation of Aloe vera L. with aloin content and superoxide dismutase activity.

An innovative protocol on accelerated in vitro propagation and acclimatisation was developed in Aloe vera L. Culture was initiated with rhizomatous stem where Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with 0.5 mg L(-1) α-naphthalene acetic acid and 1.5 mg L(-1) N(6)-benzylaminopurine (BAP) promoted earliest shoot induction. Maximum shoot multiplication was achieved in MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg L(-1)BAP. The best in vitro rooting was observed in the MS medium with 0.5 mg L(-1) indole-3-acetic acid plus 2 g L(-1) activated charcoal. The simple acclimatisation process, primarily with a combination of sand and soil (1 : 1 v/v) and finally with a blend of sand, soil and farm yard manure (2 : 1 : 1 v/v), ensured a 98% survival rate. Overall, 192 true-to-type plantlets were achieved from a single explant within 85 days. Morphologically, in vitro generated plants performed better than conventionally propagated plants; nevertheless the similarity in aloin content, gel content and superoxide dismutase activity was corroborated.