Regeneration and selection of root resistant Coleus forskohlii A threatened medicinal plant

Coleus forskohlii Briq, of the family Lamiaceae yields a valuable secondary metabolity known as forskolin which is a labdane diterpenoid.. Coleus forskohlii is the only known source of this compound. Forskolin is used in medicine for the treatment of glaucoma, congestive cardiomyopathy and asthma. Morphogenic callus was induced from young leaves on MS medium augmented with NAA and BA. These calli, when subcultured on MS with KN alone gave rise to shoots. The regenerated shoot developed good root system on MS medium fortified with NAA. The fully grown plantlets were transferred to soil for acclimatization. Coleus plant is mainly infected by a fungi Lasiodiplodia theobromae which causes root rot disease. The fungal culture filterate (ECE) of Lasiodiplodia theobromae, has been used in regeneration media to find the MIC and further to select resistant plants to the pathogen. In the present study 40% ECF in the medium showed maximum inhibition and is there fore considered as the MIC level of Coleus forshohlii. This data could prove to be useful for the future for selecting a resistant C.forskohlii plant against the root disease caused by L. theobromae.