AN EFFICIENT MICROPROPAGATION PROTOCOL FOR GERBERA JAMESONII BOLUS FROM FLOWER BUDS

An highly efficient micropropagation protocol for commercial multiplication of gerbera was developed with unopened flower buds as explants. Media for culture establishment, shoot regeneration, propagule multiplication, elongation, rooting and hardening were standardized. For culture establishment and propagule multiplication MS medium supplemented with BAP 3mg/l. + NAA 0.1 mg/l was found good. Shoots were elongated in MS medium supplemented with NAA 0.1mg/l. For root morphogenesis, MS medium supplemented with IBA 1mg/l was effective with more number of roots and longer roots. Plantlets were successfully hardened in sand soil coir pith mixture. Response was genotype dependent in all stages of in vitro propagation.