PRELIMINARY STUDY OF IN VITRO CULTURE OF COTYLEDON EXPLANTS OF ORNAMENTAL CUSHAW (CUCURBITA MOSCHATA)

A preliminary regeneration system of adventitious buds from cotyledon explants of ornamental cushew (Cucurbita moschata) was established. The results showed that the addition of 6-BA to MS medium was essential for adventitious bud induction and NAA promoted callus induction and shoot differentiation. Supplementation of GA3 did not enhance shoot induction rate but increased the number of inducted shoots. The optimum medium for adventitious bud induction was MS + 6-BA 5.0 mg/L + NAA 0.2 mg/L + GA3 0.5 mg/L. Adventitious shoots were directly inducted from the surface of the cultured cotyledons. The regenerated buds rooted readily on the 1/2 MS medium supplemented with NAA 0.05 mg/L and sucrose 20 g/L.