Hairy root induction from hypocotyl segments of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Hairy roots were induced from hypocotyl explants excised from seven day old aseptically grown seedlings of groundnut using Agrobacterium rhizogenes 15834. The percentage of hairy root induction and number of hairy roots per ex-plant varied with infection period. The suitable co-cultivation period was 48 h. The hairy roots were fast growing, thin, slender and sometimes having branches which varied in their morphological nature. The cefotaxime concentration of 250 mgL-1 was found to be most suitable for hairy root induction in groundnut. Key words: Arachis hypogaea; Agrobacterium rhizogenes, hairy root induction.