RAPID IN-VITRO PROPAGATION OF CHRYSANTHEMUM MORIFOLIUM THROUGH SHOOT BUD EXPLANTS

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) is perennial short day flowering plant. Nodal explants of Chrysanthemum were cultured on simple Murashige and Skoog (MS) media, MS media supplemented with different concentrations of 6-Benzyl adenine (6-BA) alone and in combination with different concentrations of Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) or Thidiazuron (TDZ) for shoot initiation and the regenerated shoots were sub-cultured on MS, 1/2 MS and 1/4 MS media for rooting. No shoot induction was recorded in explants cultured on simple MS, but the phyto-hormones addition to MS media resulted in 100% shoot induction. In case of MS media supplemented with 6-BA, maximum shoot buds (12) and shoot length (6.06 cm) explant(-1) were recorded when 44.39 mu M 6-BA was added to MS media. In case the MS media was supplemented with 6-BA+NAA, maximum (11) shoot buds explant(-1) were recorded in explants cultured in MS+88.79 mu M 6-BA+10.74 mu M NAA media. Among the different concentrations of 6-BA+TDZ added to MS media, maximum (6.67) shoot buds explant(-1) were recorded for explants planted in MS+88.79 mu M 6-BA+9.08 mu M TDZ. The regenerated shoots were then sub cultured on MS, 1/2 MS and 1/4 MS media for rooting. In that case, there was non-significant effect on root length. However, maximum (15.78) roots were recorded for those cultured in 1/2 MS media. Thus it is concluded that supplementing MS media with 44.39 mu M 6-BA is the best concentration for rapid shoot regeneration and 1/2 MS is optimal for the In vitro rooting of Chrysanthemum morifolium.