Standardization of rapid axillary shoot multiplication through in vitro shoot tip culture in gerbera

Rapid axillary multiplication was standardized using in vitro shoot explant of two gerbera cultivars on halfstrength MS medium supplemented with nine plant growth regulator combinations (BAP: 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 mg/l; BAP + kinetin: 1.0 + 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 mg/l and kinetin: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 mg/l). BAP: kinetin ratio of 1: 4, 1: 2 and 1: 1 proved equally effective in inducing shoot proliferation as well as decreasing the number of days to shoot initiation. Shoot proliferation was higher on half-strength MS medium (8.12 shoots/plant) in comparison to 7.06 shoots/plant on full-strength MS medium. 100 percent rooting was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 0.75 mg/l. Root number and root length in both the cultivars improved significantly in media supplemented with IBA in comparison to NAA. Rooting response on MS solid, MS with half agar and MS liquid media was similar except that the root length in plantlets on MS liquid medium was significantly shorter. However, plantlets rooted on MS liquid and MS media with half agar exhibited a significantly improved survival (96.25%) of rooted plantlets ex vitro in comparison to those rooted on MS medium with full agar (71.25 and 86.25%, respectively).