EARLY RHIZOGENESIS OF Curculigo orchioides GAERTN

An efficient In vitro protocol for rhizogenesis of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. was developed from rhizome explants. Proper selection of potential ex-plants turned out to be very important to get rhizogenesis. Rhizome is a normal choice to initiate roots because it contains incipient meristematic cells. Rhizome or axillary meristem is highly efficient compared to tuberous roots for direct rhizogenesis of C. orchioides Gaertn. When rhizome buds were inoculated onto the MS media supplemented with IAA, 0.5 mgl-l and NAA 0.25 mgl-l, 100% rhizogenesis with multiple root induction and elongation up to 2.0 – 2.5 cm was observed after 2 weeks of inoculation. No callus, shoot or root induction was observed when tuberous root sections and rhizome buds were inoculated on MS media supplemented with KN & IAA (0.5 mgl-1 and 0.1 mgl-1) and BAP & KN (0.50 mgl-1 each). We further observed that in the presence of other PGRs in MS media the tuberous root sections exhibited plantlet regeneration.