Rapid clonal propagation of papaya through culture of shootapices

Rapid axillary and adventitious shoot multiplication was obtained in Carica papaya using shoot apices from mature field grown plants. The explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium containing different concentrations and combinations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). However, maximum frequency of explants survived and resumed growth on medium with 10 mg⁻¹ BAP and 1 mg⁻¹ NAA. After 6 weeks, the growing explants were transferred to same basal medium fortified with cytokinin (0.5 and 1 mg⁻¹) and NAA (0.1 mg¹) for shoot multiplication. Addition of gibberellic acid (GA₃) in multiplication media resulted in better growth of shoots. Rooting was induced by subculturing shoots into media with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The regenerants could be transferred to soil under natural condition.