Efficient in vitro regeneration of plantlets from capitulum explant in chrysanthemum cultivars Miss Universe and Snow Ball

The sterilized explants viz. receptacle of young floral bud of two chrysanthemum cultivars namely, Snow Ball and Miss Universe, dissected under aseptic condition were inoculated on solidified MS basal medium, supplemented with various concentrations of growth regulators viz., BAP (0.5–2.0 mg/1) and NAA (0.1 - 0.5 mg/1) aloni and in various combinations. Callus initiation took place after 10–12 days of inoculation. Initially the callus was soft and fragile and subsequently it converted into leafy callus after 20 days of first callus initiation. Lateron it started forming shoots after 25 days. Shoots formed in this way were tiny. These were made to elongate on MS medium containing GA₃, (5.0–10.0 mg/1). Rooting was initiated on same media after 10–12 days. The regenerated plantlets (6–7 cm long) were transferred to sterilized sand and subsequently to soil.