In vitro regeneration protocol development via callus formation from leaf explants of tomato (Solanum lycopersicon Mill.)

The study was conducted to develop an efficient regeneration protocol in tomato through callus induction for subsequent plantlet regeneration. Seeds were inoculated on MS medium where the germination rate was 78.4%. The leaves were used as explants. Different concentration and combination of plant growth regulators (PGRs) were added with MS medium to observe their efficacy on callus induction, shoot initiation and root formation. Leaf explants cultured on MS medium fortified with 3 mg/L BAP gave the highest number of shoots (3.5) at 45 DAC. Among the concentrations of PGRs, 0.25 mg/L IAA produced the highest length (5.149 cm) of plantlets, number (5.5) of leaves and fresh weight (0.781 g) of plantlets with the leaf explants at 45 DAC. The concentration of 0.5 mg/L IAA produced the highest number (25.25) of roots/plantlet, length (8.785 cm) of roots at 45 DAC, from the same explants. The highest survival rate of in vitro regenerated plantlets in the pot was 70.00 % with the leaf explants.