CORMEL FORMATION IN GLADIOLUS THROUGH TISSUE CULTURE

An efficient tissue culture protocol was developed to regenerate the cormels of commercially grown varieties of Gladiolus. Callus was initiated in the cultures after three to five weeks from middle and bottom slices of the cormels in White Friendship and Peter pears. The maximum mean callus induction of 72.50% was observed on MS medium supplemented with NAA at 4 mg L^-1 while best proliferation (0.80 g) was recorded on basal MS medium supplemented with NAA at 0.5 mg L^-1. On the basis of cormel slices, best results were observed from bottom slice of the cormel producing 0.506 g of fresh callus growth in variety White Friendhsip. The efficient shoot regeneration from proliferated calli was observed increased in the presence of BAP from 2 to 4 mg L^-1 and exhibited the highest mean percentage of shoot regeneration (92.92%) and number of shoots (18.25). Middle slice of the cormel had more potential for mean shoot induction (70.95%) while more number of shoots (12.98) was observed from bottom slice of the cormel in variety Peter Pears. Root formation was reduced on 7% sucrose as compared to 3-5 % sucrose supplemented with IBA. The in vitro propagules initiated the development of cormels producing the highest mean number of cormels (12.06) on MS medium supplemented with 5% sucrose plus IBA (1 mg L^-1). Middle and Bottom slice of the cormels exhibited statistically similar and more potential results for cormel induction and number of cormels.