IN VITRO SHOOT REGENERATION AND PLANTLET DEVELOPMENT IN SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS L.)

Abstract

In vitro plant regeneration using cotyledonary leaf segments as explants was studied in two varities of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) namely AKS-207 and PKV-pink. Best result of callusing in both varities was observed after 21days of culture initiation on medium supplemented with TDZ (2.0mg/L) + NAA (0.5mg/L). Maximum percentage of shoot initiation (63.33%) in AKS-207 was observed on a medium fortified with TDZ (2.0mg/L) + NAA (0.1mg/L). While in PKV-pink it was observed on a medium fortified with TDZ (2.0mg/L) + NAA (0.5mg/ L). Subsequent culturing of these responded explants resulted into maximum percentage of shoot multiplication on a medium fortified with TDZ (2.0mg/L) + NAA (0.1mg/L) for AKS-207 and TDZ (2.0mg/L) + NAA (0.5mg/ L) for PKV-pink. Proliferated and well developed shoots were then rooted in medium having different concentrations of NAA. Rooted shoots were successfully acclimatized and established in greenhouse.