In vitro propagation of Lilium (Lilium longiflorum)

Lilium longiflorum has a wide applicability in the floral industry as cut flower and potted plants. Micropropagation in bulb plants is an alternative to the conventional methods for vegetative propagation which attracts much attention because of its advantages such as many fold multiplication rate. In present study an efficient micropropagation protocol in L. longiflorum has been developed. The highest bulblet regeneration (94%), maximum number of shoots (22), maximum shoot length (12 cm) and heaviest bulblets with average fresh weight (365 mg) were obtained in MS medium supplemented with BA 2.0 mg/l + NAA 0.5 mg/l. The treatment of MS medium with NAA 2.0 mg/l was most effective for rooting and gave maximum rooting (93%), maximum number of roots (19) and highest root length of 5.2 cm as compared to other treatments. The micropropagation from inoculation of scales to hardening was completed only in six months.