PLANT CELL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Somatic tissues and seeds were tried for raising reproducible cultures in Gerbera jamesonii. Mature embryos and leaf sections were used as explants sources and cultured on MS medium supplemented with various auxins and cytokinins in varying concentrations as sole as well as in different combinations. Callusing was observed in both explants however shoot regenerations was obtained only from mature embryo explant. For mature embryo culture, culture media MS3D.5B (MS+3.0 mg.l^-12,4-D+0.5 mg.l^-1 BA) initiated calli in higher frequencies, while nutrient media MS2N.5B (MS+2.0 mg.l^-1NAA+0.5 mg.l^-1 BA) promoted higher number of shoot proliferating efficiency, number of shoot (s) per responding explant and shoot of higher length. For cultured leaf disc, MS basal medium amended with 2.0-4.0 mg.l^-1 auxins (2,4-D and/or NAA) promoted higher degree of callus induction, however, regeneration was not attained. Higher in vitro rooting response (root proliferating efficiency, number of root (s) and mean root length) was exhibited by rooting medium MS.1IB (MS+0.1mg.l^-1 IBA). The plantlets were transferred to pots and hardened in Environmental Growth Cabinet and Net House during initial weaning period and transferred to field successfully.