Integration of ex-situ multiplication approaches with in-situ conservation of Gentiana kurroo through reintroduction and recovery programs: a critically endangered and endemic species of the North-West Himalaya

Abstract Gentiana kurroo Royle (Gentianaceae), a highly medicinal, critically endangered and endemic species of the Western Himalayas with restricted distribution in India and Pakistan. The perspective focuses on the ex-situ mass multiplication and in-situ conservation of the species through reintroduction under the species recovery initiative. The integration of effective conservation strategies viz macro and micro and intervention of modern technological tools for in-situ restoration of species were invoked. The macro propagation was carried out through seed germination and vertically segregating the profusely branched tuft of plants into small tufts along with the rhizome. The species was micro propagated through axillary bud explants in MS medium fortified with 4.4 µM BAP and 0.53 µM NAA was found to be the optimum for shoot induction having 98.23% of shoot formation with 11.32 mean shoot number per culture and shoot length of 4.6 cm. Shoots rooted in half strength MS medium supplemented with IBA (4.9 µM) and 0.3% activated charcoal. Profuse rooting with average 24.58 roots per shoot was reported after 3-weeks of incubation. The plants were acclimatized in the glass house and were finally transferred to the open environment with 83% survival percentage. Under the species reintroduction and recovery programs, the propagated saplings were introduced into three different wild habitats located in Chakrata and Mussoorriee forest divisions of Uttarakhand and 44% survival was reported after six months of field transfer. The research demonstrates the successful coherence of ex-situ propagation methods with in-situ conservation through reintroduction initiatives. The efforts might be helpful in in-situ preservation of the germplasm and simultaneously to cater the escalating medicinal requirements of Gentiana kurroo.