In vitro clonal propagation of Asparagus racemosus, a high value medicinal plant

Asparagus racemosus Willd., an important medicinal plant of tropical and subtropical India, is a potent phytoestrogen which is used extensively in the treatment of menopausal symptoms, diarrhea, dyspepsia, and neurodegenerative disorders. The multiple uses of this species have increased its commercial demand resulting in over-exploitation. Consequently, the plant is recognized as being "critically endangered" in its natural habitat. Development of an efficient micropropagation protocol will not only play a significant role in meeting the requirement of planting material for commercial cultivation, but also in aiding the conservation process. This chapter describes the protocol for in vitro propagation of A. racemosus by axillary branching method followed by inter simple sequence repeat marker assay to establish the clonal fidelity of the regenerants.