Effect of explant type and growth regulators on in vitro micropropagation of

ABSTRACT: This research was conducted for optimizing in vitro micropropagation of Begonia Rexas an important ornamental pot plant. Leaf disc and petioleex plants were cultured on Agar solidified MS media in factorial experiment based on complete randomized design consisting 3 levels of BA (0.2, 0.5 and 1 mg/l) in combination with NAA (0.05, 0.2), IBA (0.1, 0.5) and were maintained in a growth room at 25 ± 1?C with 16 height daily (Approximately 2500 Lux). The highest adventitious shoot regeneration with an average number of 41.6 was obtained from leaf disc explants after 5 weeks culture on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l BA and 0.5 mg/l IBA. The lowest adventitious shoots were observed on petioles which were cultured in a medium containing 0.2 mg/l BA and 0.2 mg/l NAA. Medium fortified with 0.2 mg/l GA3 was selected as the best medium for increasing the length of adventitious shoots. Root induction occurred appropriately in 1/2 MS medium without using any hormones and finally the micro propagated shoots were successfully transferred to soil and adapted with a 95 % surviving rate.