Oldenlandia umbellata L. (Rubiaceae) is an ancient Indian herb used as a source of red dye and various medicinal products. The plant is well-known in Siddha medicine for its styptic property. It is also used as drug for bronchial asthma, febrifuge, to treat poisonous bites and ulcers. These varied uses have increased the utilization and exploitation of this plant for medicinal and dye extraction purposes. Hence, a protocol for rapid propagation is standardized in the present study. The shoot tips and nodes were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of BAP and Kin alone or in combination of these two cytokinins ranging from 5-25 µM. The explants growing on medium supplemented with 10 µM BAP was found to induce more number of shoots. In combination with 6 µM Kin further yielded higher shoots of 38 per explants. The developed shoots were transferred to half strength MS medium fortified with IAA, IBA and NAA ranging from 3-15 µM. The best result was achieved on 6 µM IBA. The well rooted plants were transferred to paper cups containing FYM, red soil and sand in the ratio of 1:2:1 for hardening. Then they were transferred to the field for acclimatization. About 85% survival was achieved in the field.
