IN VITRO REGENERATION AND BULBLET PRODUCTION IN ASIATIC LILIUM

Bulb scale explants of two Asiatic hybrids of Lilium, viz. Bengalope and Vivaldi cultured on MS medium supplemented with NAA (0.1 mg/L) exhibited early bud initiation, higher number of shoot buds and more shoot length than other media combinations. The initiation and elongation of buds was delayed in the explant cultured on the media supplemented with NAA (0.5 mg/L) or BAP (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/L), whereas, the buds failed to elongate in the media containing both NAA and BAP. The root formation was obtained only in media containing NAA (0.1 and 0.5 mg/L) and BAP (0.01 mg/ 1), however, the number and length of roots were more on medium containing NAA (0.1mg/L). The explants cultured on MS media containing NAA or BAP alone exhibited bulblet formation, however, the number and size of bulblets was maximum on the medium containing NAA (0.1 mg/L). The maximum bulblet size was in the half strength MS medium containing NAA (0.1 mg/ L) and elevated level of sucrose (9%).