In vitro REGENERATION OF AUXILIARY BUD EXPLANTS OF Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.) GANDHI

The present study was carried out for in vitro regeneration of Solena amplexicaulis Lam. (Curcurbitaceae) family. After surface sterilization with 0.1% HgCl2 for 5 minutes, auxiliary bud and explants were cultured on to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different hormonal concentrations. Regeneration with Basal callus (49.91%) was observed when cultured in only MS Basal medium. Highest percentage of response (92.25%) was obtained on MS medium fortified with 2% sucrose and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) at 0.5 mg/l and average shoot length was 9.57±0.23cm. Synergism was observed through the combination of BAP and kinetin (KN). An average number of multiple shoots 11.57±0.71/ explant formed when explants were cultured in MS medium having 2% sucrose with BAP at 0.5 mg/l and KN at 1.0 mg/l and shoot elongation (12.33 cm) was achieved on same concentration after 3 weeks culture. Maximum root initiation (100%) was observed when the shootlets were inoculated in MS medium enriched with Indole-3-butyric acid (1.5 mg/l). The in vitro raised plantlets were transferred to earthen pot media containing sterilized soil, sand and manure 1:1:1(v/v) and 68 % survival rate was observed after three weeks in field observations.