Quality planting material for large scale production of Aloe vera leaves

An efficient protocol of micropropagation of Aloe vera L. has been developed by using axillary shoot as explant from healthy matured plants. This protocol involves induction, proliferation and in vitro rooting of the regenerated shoots and their acclimation under in vivo conditions. Axillary shoot gave the best response on medium containing 2.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l NAA+20.0 mg/l AdSO₄, where greater number of explants (60%) were established in minimum duration (10 days). Multiple shoot proliferation and elongation were found to be the best on the medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/l BAP+0.2 mg/l NAA+20.0 mg/l AdSO₄ in terms of maximum shoots per explant (12.8) with highest shoot length (3.6 cm). Highest rooting response (90%) with maximum roots per explant (10.8) having longest root length (6.8 cm) was found to be the best on medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l IBA and 0.5 mg/l NAA. Plantlets with developed shoot and roots were then transferred for hardening and acclimatized under the greenhouse polytunnels where 90% of survival rate was achieved.