In vitro regeneration of tuberose through petals and immature flower buds

Unlike many other bulbous flower crops, where in vitro propagation techniques have been perfected, tuberose does not have enough background studies. A study was carried out to establish aseptic cultures and to standardize in vitro propagation protocol with petal segment and immature flower bud as explants. The explants pre-treated with carbendazim 0.1% + mancozeb 0.1% and 8-HQC (200 mg l⁻¹) for 2½ h and surface sterilized with HgCl₂ (0.1%) + NaOCl (1.0%) for 8 min., respectively were found to be the best in getting aseptic culture. The best medium for shoot multiplication was MS medium supplemented with 6.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l NAA + 0.7 mg/l 2, 4-D + 0.5 mg/l TDZ for both petals (4.0) and immature flower bud (4.33) enhanced shoot multiplication. Irrespective of explants, maximum roots were observed on half-strength MS medium + 1.0 mg/l IBA. The in vitro regenerated micro-plant lets were successfully acclimatized in glass jar with polypropylene cap.