In vitro studies on somatic embryogonesis and shoot proliferation in gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex Hooker F) cv. Alsmeera

A protocal was standardized for shoot proliferation and somatic embryogenesis in gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex Hooker F.) cv. Alsmeera. Explants like shoot tips, leaf discs and petioles were collected during summer, rainy and winter seasons, cultured on MS medium alongwith varied combinations of phytohormones and subjected to diffused and normal light conditions for callusing. Further, the calli were subjecated to basal and half-strentht MS media and exposed to X-ray radiation for induction of somatic embryos. MS medium supplemented with BAP (1ppm) was found to the best for shoot proliferation, whereas, MS medium fortified with 2,4-D (5 ppm) recorded maximum callusing from leaf explants, kept in diffused light conditions. However, MS medium supplemented with kinetin (0.5 ppm), GA, (0.5 ppm) and NAA (0.5 ppm) and exposure to X-ray irradiation (1–2 KVP) for 2 sec recorded highest percentage of somatic embroyos.