OPTIMIZATION OF CONDITIONS FOR In vitro PROPAGATION OF ELEPHANT FOOT YAM (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (DENNST.) NICOLSON) Cv. GAJENDRA AND BIDHAN KUSUM

Availability of quality seed tubers of the elite cultivars of Amorphophallus paeoniifolious is the producers’ need – for which the In vitro propagation has been taken up. The central and lateral buds of Gajendra and Bidhan Kusum cultivars were used as initial explants for In vitro propagation of A. paeoniifolius. After surface sterilization, explants were sliced into 4 – 5 cm pieces and cultured on three basal media viz., MS, White and B5 supplemented with different auxins, viz., IAA (0.2 mg /l), NAA (0.2 mg /l) or 2,4–D (0.2 mg /l) in combination with BAP (4.5 mg /l) for callus induction. Callus induction started within 5-8 days of culture incubation in MSIBA medium. Differentiation of green shoots was higher when sub cultured on MSIBA medium compared to the MSNBA and MSDBA media. Callus growth and differentiation of shoot were also higher in same auxin containing medium during subculture. Sequential shock treatment (agar culture – liquid culture – agar culture - liquid culture) increased the differentiation rate and growth of healthy shoots. Rooting of shoots (5 -5.2 root / shoot) occurred in liquid MS medium containing IAA (1 mg/l), BAP (1mg/l) and casein hydrolysate within 7 – 10 days. Plantlets were hardened in cocopeat and then transferred to soil. Survival rate of plantlets (90%) were observed in soil.