Hormonal Manipulation for Rapid Micropropagation of a New Sugarcane Variety CoS 17231

Effect of growth regulators on the responses of shoot tip explants of new sugarcane variety CoS 17231 was studied during in vitro micropropagation. Shoot cultures were raised from approximately 1.0 cm long shoot tip explants comprising apical meristem and 1-2 leaf primordia on agar (8.0 g/l) solidified Murashige and Skoog’s medium. The established shoot cultures were multiplied on MS medium containing various combinations of BAP, kinetin, NAA and GA3. The results showed that MS medium containing BAP, Kinetin and NAA (0.5 mg/l each) was most suitable for producing optimum number of shoots in this new variety. Maximum 92% shoot cultures developed vigorous root system on ½ strength MS liquid medium containing 50 g/l sucrose and 5.0 mg/l NAA. The rooted shoots were washed, hardened for 45 days in the green house and transplanted to the field. Over 96 % plant survival was recorded 15 days after transplantation.