In vitro mass multiplication of pomegranate from cotyledonary nodal explants cv. Ganesh

For surface sterilization of explants, treatment involving HgCl 2 (0.1 %) for 3 min gave better sterilization of cotyledonary nodal explants. The maximum percentage establishment of cotyledonary node explants was observed on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium + 1.0 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) + 0.5 mg/l naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). However, MS medium fortified with 1.0 mg/l BAP + 1.0 mg/l kinetin + 200 mg/l activated charcoal exhibited maximum multiplication rate for the first two subcultures. The maximum frequency of multiple shoots in cotyledonary explants (86.33 %) was observed on treatment MS + 1.0 mg/l BAP + 1.0 mg/l kinetin + 200 mg/l activated charcoal. In vitro rooting of regenerated shoot was found in half strength MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l NAA + 200 mg/l activated charcoal, which recorded the maximum number of root/shoot (4.17) and root length (3.87 cm). In vitro grown plantlets having 5 to 6 cm length of shoot were transferred to vermicompost + soil (1:1v/v) media kept in net house, which showed better survival of plantlet (85.50%) within 11.75 days. Keywords : Establishment, multiplication, rooting, acclimatization, Punica granatum African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(20), pp. 2863-2868