INFLUENCE OF CYTOKININS ON ADVENTITIOUS SHOOT REGENERATION FROM LEAF AND PETIOLE EXPLANTS OF AJUGA MULTIFLORA BUNGE

Abstract

Direct adventitious shoots were initiated from leaf and petiole explants after 2 weeks of culture on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, or 16.0 mu M BA, 2iP or thidiazuron. Of the two explants used, petiole segments produced higher number of shoots per explant than leaf explant. Among the three cytokinins investigated, thidiazuron induced maximum number of shoots at 4.0 mu M and the corresponding percentage of shoot induction was 100%. Lower concentrations of 2iP and BA did not initiate any shoots, while higher concentrations of TDZ induced callus and callus mediated regeneration. The regenerated shoots were transferred to MS medium and cultured for five weeks to induce the growth of shoots and roots. Shoot growth and root initiation were visible within 2 weeks following the transfer of shoots to MS medium and the frequency of root induction was 100% with a mean number of 8.2 roots per shoot. The in vitro-grown plantlets were successfully acclimatized in the greenhouse with 100% of survival.