Effect of Auxin on Vegetative Growth and Primary Metabolites of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn.

Medicinally important plant Boerhaavia diffusa, commonly known as 'Punarnava' is a member of the family Nyctaginaceae of angiospersms. Effect of growth regulators, Indole acetic acid (IAA), Indole butyric acid (IBA) 10ppm, 50ppm and 100ppm were observed on vegetative growth, ability to rooting, chlorophyll content and primary metabolites of the plant. Effect on vegetative growth was studied through treating the stem cutting. 50ppm IBA treated cuttings showed best results in vegetative growth as plant height, number of leaves, number of node and internodes and number of branches, rooting response as number of roots and primary metabolites as total sugar, reducing sugar, total soluble protein and TCA precipitated protein. Root length was maximum with 100ppm IBA.