PLANT CELL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

In vitro response of eight pearl millet genotypes was evaluated in the present study. When the seed was used as initial explants, high percentage (87%) of callus induction was noticed in the genotype X6 followed by PT 4671 (73%) and PT 1479 (68%) within 17 days of culture. Various concentrations of 2,4-D (0.5 to 3.0 mg/l), Kinetin (0.2 to 0.5 mg/l) and BAP (1.0 and 1.5 mg/l) were used for callus initiation. The seed calli that remained healthy were transferred to regeneration media at 40 to 42 days after initial culture. The regeneration frequency ranged from 18.75 to 67.50% with X6 cultivar. Regeneration frequency was found to be significant in the combination of Zeatin (2.5 mg/l), BAP (2.0 mg/l) and IAA (0.5 mg/l). For rooting, MS medium with different concentrations of 2,4-D and IAA was tried. In addition, 10% coconut water was also added in all the treatments. Highest rooting percent (70%) was observed on MS + 2,4-D (1.5 mg/l) and IAA (1.5 mg/l) combination with X6 genotype. Well developed plantlets were transferred to soil and kept in the green house condition. Subsequently, they were established in the field and the survival percent was 53.85%.