Rapid In Vitro Micro Propagation Of Chick Pea (Cicer Arietinum L.) From Shoot Tip And Cotyledonary Node Explants

Abstract

A rapid, simple and efficient protocol for in vitro multiple shoot induction and plantlet regeneration was achieved from two different explants of Cicer arietinum cv (ICCCR) (kranthi). The explants viz shoot tip and cotyledonary node were cultured on MS medium fortified with Benzyl Adeno Purine (BAP) (0.5-3.0 mg/L) and Kinetin (Kn) (0.5-3.0 mg/L) for multiple shoot induction. Multiple shoots proliferation was best observed at 2.0mg/L BAP from all the two explants within three weeks of culture. Of the two different explants tested, BAP was found to be more effective than Kinetin for shoot multiplication. The highest number of shoots (12.0 ± 0.3) was achieved on MS medium augmented with 2.0 mg/L BAP. The medium supplemented with (2.0 mg/L) BAP better than all other media concentrations in cotyledonary node explants. Individual shoots were aseptically excised and sub cultured in the same media for shoot elongation. The elongated shoots were transferred to Indole Butyric Acid (IBA) (0.5-1.0mg/L) and Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) (0.5-1.0mg/L) for root induction. Rooting was observed within two weeks of culture. MS medium supplemented with (1.0 mg/L) IBA proved better with seventy percent rooting after 25 days of implantation. Most of the roots were long and healthy. Rooted plantlets were successfully hardened under culture conditions and subsequently established in the field conditions. The recorded survival rate of the plants was 76.3%. Plants looked healthy with no visually detectable phenotypic variations.