Direct shoots regeneration from explant surface in Euphorbia hirta L.

A highly efficient plant propagation protocol was developed for Euphorbia hirta L. using nodal shoot segments as explant. The explants were surface sterilized with 0.1% (w/v) mercuric chloride on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium augmented with different concentrations of 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Kinetin (Kn) singly or in combination with Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Use of BAP at 2.0 mgl⁻¹ induced the highest frequency (100%) of shoot induction as well as maximum number of shoots per explant (6.22). Proliferated shoot clumps were further multiplied and elongated on 0.5 mgl⁻¹ BAP and Kn. The highest rooting frequency (92.8%) as well as highest number of roots (4.3) was observed in half strength MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mgl⁻¹ Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Regenerated plantlets were acclimatized successfully in the green house and finally transplanted in the pots.