Micropropagation of Strawberry (Fragaria X Ananassa)

For obtaining basic material for the establishment of large scale, stable and high yielding strawberry plantlets for cultivation requires mass production of uniform propagules. Micropropagation is one of the effective means to achieve this goal. Continuous planting of runners from old mother plants for five or more years that are prone to diseases & viruses and the lack of ideal planting materials are the main causes of low productivity of strawberry. The rate of strawberry propagation through conventional technique is quite low and it is difficult to maintain plant material during the summer months. Efficient method for shoot regeneration, proliferation and rooting from nodal segments of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) cultivars Chandler, Oso-Grande and Cama-Rosa was developed. After six weeks of incubation maximum regeneration of 90 per cent was recorded in cv. Chandler on MS medium with 2 mg l^”1 BA + 0.5 mg l^”1 NAA. In all cultivars maximum mean number of shoots per explant was observed in MS + 2.0 mg l^”1 BA + 0.5 mg l^”1 NAA. Maximum length (10.18 cm) and number of shoots (10.4) were observed in cv Chandler on MS Media supplemented with BA (2 mg l^”1) and NAA (0.5 mg l^”1). The regenerated shoots were rooted on MS basal medium with different concentrations IBA. The maximum frequency of rooting, highest number of roots (10) and maximum length of roots (7.5 cm) was observed in cv Chandler on MS medium containing 2 mg l⁻¹ IBA and 2.3 mg l⁻¹ IBA respectively. The plantlets, thus developed were hardened and successfully established in soil.