Direct organogenesis from ray and disc florets of a chlorophyll variegated chrysanthemum

‘Kargil 99’ is a small flowered chrysanthemum variety having spoon shaped, single whorr purplish mouve ray florets with yellow disc and snow white variegation on leaves. Both ray and disc florets from half open flower heads were cultured on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of BA and NAA. Direct shoot organogenesis was observed within 20–25 days. Disc florets were more organogenic than ray florets. The highest (75%) organogenic response with 11 shoots per responding explant was obtained from disc florets in 1 mg/litre NAA aan 5.0 mg/litre BA treatment. Shoots werereoted on 0.2 mg/litre NAA containg half strength MS medium. Survival of plantlets was 100% upon transfer to the field conditions where they flowered true-to-type.